East Bearskin Lake
East Bearskin Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 66 ft. Surface area: 593.29 acres.
- Clarity
- 14 ft
- Typical in August
- 60°F
- Max depth
- 66 ft
- Area
- 593 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- May 6
Next lake in Cook County
Why East Bearskin Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For East Bearskin Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
East Bearskin Lake is a 593-acre lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 66 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and green sunfish. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-07-31. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for East Bearskin Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near East Bearskin Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near East Bearskin Lake in Cook County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near East Bearskin Lake
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Water Temperature
East Bearskin Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 61°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 68°F) and coldest in Jul (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 59 field readings (2011–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full East Bearskin Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 66 ft |
| Surface Area | 593 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 13.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 25% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing East Bearskin Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-06 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 27.48 | 0.12 lb |
| Walleye | 1.57 | 1.29 lb |
| Lake Trout | 1.40 | 3.07 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.25 | 2.41 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 0.75 | 0.04 lb |
| Northern Pike | 0.72 | 2.91 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Yellow Perch
Walleye
Lake Trout
White Sucker
From the 2024-08-06 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in East Bearskin Lake on August 6th, 2024, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Trout, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. During the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for East Bearskin Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — East BearskinFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — East Bearskin (1823)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — East BearskinFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — East BearskinPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.198 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (3 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2010-04-06 (2010) | 2011-05-12 (2011) |
Most recent ice-out: 2011-05-12
EPA Impairment Status
East Bearskin Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN16-0146-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near East Bearskin Lake
East Bearskin Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about East Bearskin Lake
What is the water quality grade for East Bearskin Lake?
- East Bearskin Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 66 ft. Surface area: 593.29 acres.
Is East Bearskin Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. East Bearskin Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of East Bearskin Lake?
- East Bearskin Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in August, from 59 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is East Bearskin Lake?
- East Bearskin Lake has a maximum depth of 66 feet. The lake covers 593.29 acres.
What fish are in East Bearskin Lake?
- Fish species found in East Bearskin Lake include black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, lake trout, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. East Bearskin Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.
When does East Bearskin Lake thaw?
- East Bearskin Lake typically has ice-out around May 6.
Explore East Bearskin Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
18 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA18 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate