East Smith Lake
Itasca County, Minnesota152 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for East Smith Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- 38 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
East Smith Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 38 ft. Surface area: 151.78 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 10, 2009 caught 4.67 northern pike per gill net at East Smith Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–36 inches. DNR survey details →
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.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-01. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What East Smith Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water12 ft of visibility
- Fishing5 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 20
- Deep water38 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
No readingLimited data
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether East Smith 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 Smith Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for East Smith 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 12 ft. TSI 41.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 12ft | 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. | 41 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about East Smith Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 10, 2009 caught 4.67 northern pike per gill net at East Smith Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–36 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows East Smith Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2009-08-10 (Standard Survey).
3 surveys on file · most recent 2009-08-10 (Standard Survey)
17 years old| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 14.99 | 3–9 in 2009-08-10 | 0.14 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.13 | 9–36 in 2009-08-10 | 1.41 lb |
| Black Crappie | 1.77 | 6–11 in 2009-08-10 | 0.42 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 1.60 | 6–7 in 2009-08-10 | 0.1 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 0.63 | 10–15 in 2009-08-10 | 0.66 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 0.38 | 0.1 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.
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
Lake Details
Max depth
38 ft
Surface area
152 acres
Shoreline
5 mi
Littoral zone
45%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
4 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,385 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Follow East Smith Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing East Smith Lake
Water Quality Trend: Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2020–2024).
Water clarity
Stable5 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 20
Earliest Mar 28, 2000 · Latest May 2, 2008
Typical ice-in
Nov 23
Earliest Nov 8, 2003 · Latest Dec 17, 1998
Most recent ice-out
May 2
2008
24 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about East Smith Lake
Where is East Smith Lake?
- East Smith Lake is a lake in Itasca 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 Smith Lake?
- East Smith Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 38 ft. Surface area: 151.78 acres.
Is East Smith Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at East Smith Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 10, 2009 caught 4.67 northern pike per gill net at East Smith Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–36 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows East Smith Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Can I fish at East Smith Lake?
- Public access to East Smith Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. 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 Smith Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Itasca County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Rainy Lake Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near East Smith Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
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)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate