Fall Lake
Lake County, Minnesota2,258 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Fall Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- spiny waterflea
- 32 ft max depth
- Public access
Fall Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 2258.46 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 22, 2022 caught 16.67 walleye per gill net at Fall Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 3–25 inches. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of Fall Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 30 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Fall Lake is a 2,258-acre mesotrophic lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 32 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and burbot. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Fall Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-26. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Fall Lake covers about 2,300 acres in Lake County. It has 3 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. The median ice-out date is April 28, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Fall Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Fall Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Fishing12 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 28
- Deep water32 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water2,258 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Fall Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Fall 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 Fall Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Fall Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 5.5 ft. Phosphorus 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 6 µg/L. TSI 50.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 5.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 21µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 6µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 50 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Fall Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 22, 2022 caught 16.67 walleye per gill net at Fall Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 3–25 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Fall Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-08-22 (Targeted Survey).
13 surveys on file · most recent 2022-08-22 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 9.43 | 6–17 in 2022-08-22 | 0.64 lb |
| Walleye | 7.77 | 3–25 in 2022-08-22 | 0.81 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.76 | 5–11 in 2022-08-22 | 0.41 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.29 | 14–27 in 2022-08-22 | 1.99 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.74 | 4–19 in 2022-08-22 | 2.38 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.
Tullibee (Cisco)
Walleye
Yellow Perch
Northern Pike
From the 2022-08-22 survey
Fall Lake is located four miles northeast of Ely. There are three main public accesses, two of which have concrete ramps, the other is gravel. This 2,258 acre lake contains two substantial inlets. The Shagawa River comes in on the west end of the lake and the Kawishiwi River enters on the south side at the site of the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Fall Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FallFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Fall (1895)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — FallPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
32 ft
Surface area
2,258 acres
Shoreline
30.9 mi
Littoral zone
52%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Recreation & Access
- Fall Lake (South)Public
- Fall Lake (North)Public
- Fall Lake (Central)Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Fall Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fall Lake in Lake 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 Fall 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 trip? Cabins and lodging at Fall Lake → · more Minnesota lake trips
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Fall Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Stable+0.06 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Stable+0.1 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 28
Earliest Mar 27, 2012 · Latest May 19, 1950
Most recent ice-out
May 2
2025
129 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Fall Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Fall Lake (completed 1989), built primarily for recreation on the KAWISHIWI RIVER; rockfill-type dam, 12 ft tall and 260 ft long.
- Surface area
- 2,173 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,173 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 17,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1,353 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- USDA FS
All listed purposes: Recreation;Navigation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN01157 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Fall Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN38-0811-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Fall Lake
Where is Fall Lake?
- Fall Lake is a lake in Lake County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Fall Lake?
- Fall Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 2258.46 acres.
Is Fall Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Fall Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Fall Lake?
- Fall Lake has a maximum depth of 32 feet. The lake covers 2258.46 acres.
What fish are in Fall Lake?
- Fish species found in Fall Lake include black crappie, bluegill, burbot, cisco species, northern pike, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Fall Lake is located in Lake County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Fall Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 22, 2022 caught 16.67 walleye per gill net at Fall Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 3–25 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Fall Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Fall Lake thaw?
- Fall Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 28.
Are there boat ramps on Fall Lake?
- Fall Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Fall Lake (South), Fall Lake (North), Fall Lake (Central). Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Fall Lake?
- Fall Lake has 3 documented boat landings 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 Fall Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Lake County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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State Parks Near Fall Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Fall Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
204 measurements from 7 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA204 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (7)
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 details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate