East Bearskin Lake
Cook County, Minnesota593 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for East Bearskin Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Impaired · Mercury
- 66 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
East Bearskin Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 66 ft. Surface area: 593.29 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 31, 2023 caught 2.62 walleye per gill net at East Bearskin Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–28 inches. DNR survey details →
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 with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-07-31. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What East Bearskin Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water14 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing12 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around May 6
- Deep water66 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
No readingLimited data
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. East Bearskin Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether East Bearskin Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for East Bearskin Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for East Bearskin Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft. TSI 39.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 14ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | No reading The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. | |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 39 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about East Bearskin Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
East Bearskin Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (55°F) to its warmest (68°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 31, 2023 caught 2.62 walleye per gill net at East Bearskin Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–28 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows East Bearskin Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-06 (Targeted Survey).
14 surveys on file · most recent 2024-08-06 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 27.48 | 1–9 in 2023-07-31 | 0.12 lb |
| Walleye | 1.57 | 7–28 in 2023-07-31 | 1.29 lb |
| Lake Trout | 1.40 | 29 in 2020-08-03 | 3.07 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.25 | 16–20 in 2023-07-31 | 2.41 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 0.75 | 1–5 in 2023-07-31 | 0.04 lb |
| Northern Pike | 0.72 | 21–36 in 2023-07-31 | 2.91 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Lake Details
Max depth
66 ft
Surface area
593 acres
Shoreline
13.7 mi
Littoral zone
25%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
20 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,703 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- East Bearskin LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near East Bearskin Lake
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Follow East Bearskin Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing East Bearskin Lake
- → East Bearskin Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → East Bearskin Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → East Bearskin Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from East Bearskin Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2020–2024).
Water clarity
Worsening5 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
May 6
Earliest Apr 6, 2010 · Latest May 12, 2011
Most recent ice-out
May 12
2011
3 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
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
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN16-0146-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about East Bearskin Lake
Where is East Bearskin Lake?
- East Bearskin Lake is a lake in Cook County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of East Bearskin Lake?
- East Bearskin Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 66 ft. Surface area: 593.29 acres.
Is East Bearskin Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. East Bearskin Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of East Bearskin Lake?
- East Bearskin Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in September, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at East Bearskin Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 31, 2023 caught 2.62 walleye per gill net at East Bearskin Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–28 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows East Bearskin Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does East Bearskin Lake thaw?
- East Bearskin Lake typically has ice-out around May 6.
Are there boat ramps on East Bearskin Lake?
- East Bearskin Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include East Bearskin Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at East Bearskin Lake?
- East Bearskin Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore East Bearskin Lake across LakeQuality
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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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate