Gander Lake
Gander Lake in Lake County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.6 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 7 ft. Surface area: 116.9 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.6 ft
- Max depth
- 7 ft
- Area
- 117 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 27
- Open water
- 200 days
Next lake in Lake County
Why Gander 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 Gander 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.
Gander Lake is a 117-acre lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 7 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including northern pike, pumpkinseed, and white sucker. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-28. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Gander Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Gander Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 5.6 ft. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Gander Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Gander 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 Gander Lake
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 7 ft |
| Surface Area | 117 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| 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 Gander Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2005-07-18 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| BNS | 146.33 | — |
| GOS | 95.33 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 56.02 | 0.1 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.35 | 2.27 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.14 | 0.04 lb |
| TPM | 4.03 | 0.03 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
Northern Pike
Pumpkinseed
TPM
From the 2005-07-18 survey
Gander Lake is a relatively small, remote lake approximately 8 miles northwest of Isabella. Most of the lake is surrounded by Federal land however there is no developed public access. There are a number of locations on the lake where there is private access. The lake supports a natural population of northern pike,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Gander Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GanderFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.12 m/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (10 observations).
Estimated open water season: 200 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2017-04-10 (2017) | 2022-05-08 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-09 (2018) | 2024-11-26 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-27
EPA Impairment Status
Gander Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN38-0554-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Gander Lake
Gander Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Gander Lake
What is the water quality grade for Gander Lake?
- Gander Lake in Lake County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.6 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 7 ft. Surface area: 116.9 acres.
Is Gander Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Gander 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 Gander Lake?
- Gander Lake has a maximum depth of 7 feet. The lake covers 116.9 acres.
What fish are in Gander Lake?
- Fish species found in Gander Lake include northern pike, pumpkinseed, white sucker, yellow perch. Gander Lake is located in Lake County, Minnesota.
When does Gander Lake thaw?
- Gander Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 27. Ice typically forms around Nov 13. The open water season is approximately 200 days.
Explore Gander Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded 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 grade
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Gander Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
4 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
MNPCA4 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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate