East Bearskin Lake

On the LakeGrade scale East Bearskin Lake grades a B, with clarity at 14.0 ft and phosphorus readings still being added placing it above the Minnesota median. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

A TSI value of 39 puts East Bearskin Lake in the oligotrophic range, where biological productivity stays low and the water column remains clear. The lake's 66 ft maximum depth is in the upper tier for Minnesota — deep enough for cold-water fish to find refuge in summer. The lake's 593 acres and 13.7 miles of shoreline put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. East Bearskin Lake ranks 46 of 128 in Cook County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at East Bearskin Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 12 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.