Gale Lake
Gale Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 17.1 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 50 ft. Surface area: 85.87 acres.
- Clarity
- 17.1 ft
- Max depth
- 50 ft
- Area
- 86 acres
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Gale 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 Gale Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). 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.
Gale Lake is a 86-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 50 feet. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and northern pike. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
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
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Gale Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 17.1 ft down. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 17.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Gale Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Gale 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 Gale Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 50 ft |
| Surface Area | 86 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 43% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Gale Lake
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.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GaleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Gale (0721)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Graded lakes near Gale Lake
Gale Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Gale Lake
What is the water quality grade for Gale Lake?
- Gale Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 17.1 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 50 ft. Surface area: 85.87 acres.
Is Gale Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Gale 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 Gale Lake?
- Gale Lake has a maximum depth of 50 feet. The lake covers 85.87 acres.
What fish are in Gale Lake?
- Fish species found in Gale Lake include black crappie, bluegill, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Gale Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
2 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Department of Agriculture - Pesticide Monitoring
MNDA_PESTICIDE1 sample · 2022 - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA1 sample · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder