Holly Lake
Holly Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 6 ft. Surface area: 75.94 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.5 ft
- Max depth
- 6 ft
- Area
- 76 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- May 8
- Open water
- 187 days
Next lake in Cook County
Why Holly 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 Holly 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.
Holly Lake is a 76-acre lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 6 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including northern pike, pumpkinseed, and walleye. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-13. 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 Holly Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 4.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Holly Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Holly Lake in Cook 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 Holly Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 6 ft |
| Surface Area | 76 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Holly LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Holly Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-05 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 27.51 | 0.14 lb |
| White Sucker | 8.88 | 1.75 lb |
| GOS | 7.36 | 0.08 lb |
| BND | 4.58 | — |
| Walleye | 4.41 | 1.58 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.70 | 1.8 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
White Sucker
GOS
Walleye
From the 2023-07-05 survey
Holly is 75-acre lake located about 11 miles north of Lutsen. Public access is through a boat landing on the southeast bay of the lake. Holly has historically been managed for walleye with supplemental stocking since the 1970s. Walleye stocking was discontinued in 2018 after survey results showed a healthy naturally…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Holly Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HollyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Holly (1795)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — HollyFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — HollyPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.086 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (11 observations).
Estimated open water season: 187 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2020-05-02 (2020) | 2022-05-14 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-01 (2017) | 2024-11-25 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-05-11
EPA Impairment Status
Holly 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 MN16-0366-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Holly Lake
Holly Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Holly Lake
What is the water quality grade for Holly Lake?
- Holly Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 6 ft. Surface area: 75.94 acres.
Is Holly Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Holly 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 Holly Lake?
- Holly Lake has a maximum depth of 6 feet. The lake covers 75.94 acres.
What fish are in Holly Lake?
- Fish species found in Holly Lake include northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Holly Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.
When does Holly Lake thaw?
- Holly Lake typically has ice-out around May 8. Ice typically forms around Nov 11. The open water season is approximately 187 days.
Are there boat ramps on Holly Lake?
- Holly Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Holly Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Holly Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
40 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA40 samples · 2020–2025
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