Gale Lake
Itasca County, MinnesotaLimited DataOligotrophic
Gale Lake earns an A — every scored parameter (clarity) rates among the best monitored waters in Itasca County.
Trophically, Gale Lake reads as oligotrophic — nutrient-poor, clear, and ecologically more sensitive to disturbance than richer lakes. Gale Lake is unusually deep for Minnesota at 50 ft, which buffers the lake against summer warming and helps the deep water stay oxygenated. Gale Lake is small — 86 acres alongside 2.5 miles of shoreline — which makes it sensitive to even modest changes in watershed runoff or recreational pressure. Among the 141 graded lakes in Itasca County, Gale Lake ranks 35 — in the top quartile locally.
No invasive species are currently listed at Gale Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery is panfish-dominated — bluegill, crappie, and sunfish among the 7 species documented for the lake. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-07-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 17.1 ft down. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 17.1 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 50 ft |
| Surface Area | 85.87 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 43% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Gale Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Gale Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Gale Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #35 of 141 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Gale Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2008-07-14 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 6.21 | 0.26 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.02 | 0.1 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.42 | 1.77 lb |
| Black Crappie | 1.13 | 0.48 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 1.13 | 1.04 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 0.63 | 0.15 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
Pumpkinseed
Northern Pike
Black Crappie
From the 2008-07-14 survey
Gale Lake is located 9 miles southeast of Bigfork, MN in the Big Fork River watershed. The lake has a surface area of 73 acres and a maximum depth of 50 feet. Gale Lake is in ecological lake class #28. Other area lakes in this class include Arrowhead, Batson and Raddison Lakes. Gale Lake has no developed public…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Gale Lake. 2 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GaleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Gale (0721)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2022-07-26
Monitoring stations: 2