Kraemer Lake
Kraemer Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 195.03 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 30 ft
- Area
- 195 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 12
- Open water
- 224 days
Next lake in Stearns County
Kraemer Lake is a 195-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 30 feet (13-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 31 other monitored lakes in Stearns County, Kraemer Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-08-31. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 11.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 22 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 11.6 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Kraemer Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Kraemer Lake in Stearns 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 Kraemer Lake
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Water Temperature
Kraemer Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 76°F) and coldest in Jun (about 72°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Kraemer Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 30 ft |
| Average Depth | 13 ft |
| Surface Area | 195 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 54% |
| 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 Kraemer Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-11 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 39.39 | 0.13 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 20.22 | 0.16 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 13.21 | 0.66 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 10.91 | 1.62 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 9.40 | 0.53 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.78 | 2.19 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
Yellow Perch
Black Bullhead
Largemouth Bass
From the 2022-07-11 survey
Kraemer Lake is 194-acre recreational development lake located two miles southwest of St. Joseph in eastern Stearns County. An access on the east side of the lake belongs to the St. Joseph Rod and Gun Club and use of the access is limited to members only. Most development has occurred along the north and east sides of…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Kraemer Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — KraemerFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.202 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.13 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.05 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (8 observations).
Estimated open water season: 224 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-22 (2016) | 2019-04-20 (2019) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-15 (2018) | 2015-12-21 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2020-04-07
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 32 lakes in Stearns County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Kraemer Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about Kraemer Lake
What is the water quality grade for Kraemer Lake?
- Kraemer Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 195.03 acres.
Is Kraemer Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Kraemer Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 11.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Kraemer Lake?
- Kraemer Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 12 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Kraemer Lake?
- Kraemer Lake has a maximum depth of 30 feet and an average depth of 13 feet. The lake covers 195.03 acres.
What fish are in Kraemer Lake?
- Fish species found in Kraemer Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Kraemer Lake is located in Stearns County, Minnesota.
When does Kraemer Lake thaw?
- Kraemer Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 12. Ice typically forms around Nov 22. The open water season is approximately 224 days.
Explore Kraemer Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
131 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA131 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate