Little Bowstring Lake

The LakeGrade rubric puts Little Bowstring Lake at a C: clarity at 7.3 ft, phosphorus readings still being added, and a TSI of 49 signal an intermediate trophic state.

Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Little Bowstring Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. The lake bottoms out at 33 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. At 326 acres, Little Bowstring Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 3.2 miles of shoreline. Within the 141 graded lakes of Itasca County, Little Bowstring Lake sits at rank 114, near the bottom of the county list.

Little Bowstring Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2020, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 15 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. A documented public access point at Little Bowstring Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Ice-out has been recorded 17 times at Little Bowstring Lake, with a median around Apr 18. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.