Fleming Lake
Fleming Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 318.83 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 15 ft
- Area
- 319 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 17
- Open water
- 225 days
Next lake in Aitkin County
Why Fleming 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 Fleming 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.
Fleming Lake is a 319-acre lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 15 feet (6-foot average). The lake supports 11 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-08-03. 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 Fleming Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 5.2 ft. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Fleming Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fleming Lake in Aitkin 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 Fleming Lake
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Water Temperature
Fleming Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 14 field readings (2011–2016) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Fleming Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 15 ft |
| Average Depth | 6 ft |
| Surface Area | 319 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 99% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Fleming LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Fleming Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2017-08-07 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 45.95 | 0.11 lb |
| Black Crappie | 30.74 | 0.21 lb |
| Bluegill | 13.59 | 0.26 lb |
| GOS | 9.78 | 0.11 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 4.15 | 0.87 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 3.68 | 0.75 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.
Yellow Perch
Black Crappie
Bluegill
GOS
From the 2017-08-07 survey
Fleming Lake is a shallow, very fertile lake located in central Aitkin County, five and one-half miles south of Palisade. Fleming Lake has a history of occasional partial winterkills, although there are no recent reports of such an event. The lake is a popular destination for many anglers in search of northern pike,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Fleming Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FlemingFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Fleming (0085)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — FlemingPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.07 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (18 observations).
Estimated open water season: 225 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-04-01 (2016) | 1996-05-05 (1996) |
| Ice-In | 1990-11-13 (1990) | 2006-12-01 (2006) |
Most recent ice-out: 2018-05-04
EPA Impairment Status
Fleming 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 MN01-0105-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Aitkin County
Frequently asked questions about Fleming Lake
What is the water quality grade for Fleming Lake?
- Fleming Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 318.83 acres.
Is Fleming Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Fleming Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Fleming Lake?
- Fleming Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 14 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2016). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Fleming Lake?
- Fleming Lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet and an average depth of 6 feet. The lake covers 318.83 acres.
What fish are in Fleming Lake?
- Fish species found in Fleming Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Fleming Lake is located in Aitkin County, Minnesota.
When does Fleming Lake thaw?
- Fleming Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 17. Ice typically forms around Nov 28. The open water season is approximately 225 days.
Are there boat ramps on Fleming Lake?
- Fleming Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Fleming Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Fleming Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
6 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA6 samples · 2020
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