Gilstad Lake
Gilstad Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 256.76 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 54°F
- Max depth
- 55 ft
- Area
- 257 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Beltrami County
Why Gilstad 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 Gilstad 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.
Gilstad Lake is a 257-acre lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 55 feet. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-07-31. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Gilstad 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 Gilstad Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 6.2 ft. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Gilstad Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Gilstad Lake in Beltrami 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 Gilstad 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 →
Water Temperature
Gilstad Lake typically sits around 54°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 60°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 66°F) and coldest in Aug (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 61 field readings (2022–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Gilstad Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 55 ft |
| Surface Area | 257 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 44% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Gilsted LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Gilstad Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-05 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| CNM | 28.12 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 24.10 | 0.09 lb |
| Bluegill | 9.86 | 0.22 lb |
| SUN | 8.54 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 4.87 | 1.48 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.83 | 2.09 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
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
From the 2025-08-05 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Gilstad Lake on August 5th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Gilstad Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GilstadFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Gilstad (1742)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — GilstadFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — GilstadPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Gilstad 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 MN04-0024-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Gilstad Lake
Gilstad Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Gilstad Lake
What is the water quality grade for Gilstad Lake?
- Gilstad Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 256.76 acres.
Is Gilstad Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Gilstad 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 Gilstad Lake?
- Gilstad Lake typically sits around 54°F at the surface in August, from 61 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Gilstad Lake?
- Gilstad Lake has a maximum depth of 55 feet. The lake covers 256.76 acres.
What fish are in Gilstad Lake?
- Fish species found in Gilstad Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Gilstad Lake is located in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Gilstad Lake?
- Gilstad Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Gilsted Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Gilstad Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Beltrami County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Gilstad Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA1 sample · 2024
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