East Smith Lake
East Smith Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 38 ft. Surface area: 151.78 acres.
- Clarity
- 12 ft
- Max depth
- 38 ft
- Area
- 152 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 20
- Open water
- 217 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Why East Smith 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 Smith 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 Smith Lake is a 152-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 38 feet. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-01. 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 Smith Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near East Smith Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near East Smith Lake in Itasca 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 Smith Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 38 ft |
| Surface Area | 152 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 45% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Dock LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing East Smith Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2009-08-10 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 14.99 | 0.14 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.13 | 1.41 lb |
| Black Crappie | 1.77 | 0.42 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 1.60 | 0.1 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 0.63 | 0.66 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 0.38 | 0.1 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.
Bluegill
Northern Pike
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
From the 2009-08-10 survey
East Smith Lake is a 145 acre lake located five miles southeast of Marcell, MN in the Big Fork River watershed. The lake is in ecological lake class 32. Lakes in this class are small, have moderate clarity and depth, and relatively soft water. Other area lakes in this class include Big Ole, Black Island and Highland…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for East Smith Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — East SmithFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — East Smith (0730)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.06 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (24 observations).
Estimated open water season: 217 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-03-28 (2000) | 2008-05-02 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-08 (2003) | 1998-12-17 (1998) |
Most recent ice-out: 2008-05-02
EPA Impairment Status
East Smith 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 MN31-0620-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.49 km)
Graded lakes near East Smith Lake
East Smith Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about East Smith Lake
What is the water quality grade for East Smith Lake?
- East Smith Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 38 ft. Surface area: 151.78 acres.
Is East Smith Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. East Smith Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is East Smith Lake?
- East Smith Lake has a maximum depth of 38 feet. The lake covers 151.78 acres.
What fish are in East Smith Lake?
- Fish species found in East Smith Lake include black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch. East Smith Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does East Smith Lake thaw?
- East Smith Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 20. Ice typically forms around Nov 23. The open water season is approximately 217 days.
Are there boat ramps on East Smith Lake?
- East Smith Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Dock Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
82 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA82 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate