Little Bowstring Lake
Little Bowstring Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7.3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 33 ft. Surface area: 326.48 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.3 ft
- Max depth
- 33 ft
- Area
- 326 acres
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 18
- Open water
- 217 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Little Bowstring 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 Little Bowstring 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.
Little Bowstring Lake is a 326-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 33 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 2020-10-10. 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 Little Bowstring Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.3 ft. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Little Bowstring Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Bowstring Lake in Itasca 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 Little Bowstring Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 33 ft |
| Surface Area | 326 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 35% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Little Bowstring LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Bowstring Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
16 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-18 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 45.26 | 0.14 lb |
| BKF | 18.97 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 17.55 | — |
| BCS | 12.50 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 8.06 | 1.54 lb |
| BNS | 6.73 | — |
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
Largemouth Bass
From the 2022-07-18 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Little Bowstring Lake was conducted on July 18-20, 2022 by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program Staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot seine, where possible. Backpack…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Bowstring Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little BowstringFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Little Bowstring (0733)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Little BowstringFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little BowstringPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (33 observations).
Estimated open water season: 217 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-24 (2012) | 2013-05-13 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-07 (2003) | 2001-12-09 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2016-04-15
Graded lakes near Little Bowstring Lake
Little Bowstring Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Little Bowstring Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Bowstring Lake?
- Little Bowstring Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7.3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 33 ft. Surface area: 326.48 acres.
Is Little Bowstring Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Little Bowstring 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 Little Bowstring Lake?
- Little Bowstring Lake has a maximum depth of 33 feet. The lake covers 326.48 acres.
What fish are in Little Bowstring Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Bowstring 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. Little Bowstring Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does Little Bowstring Lake thaw?
- Little Bowstring Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 18. Ice typically forms around Nov 21. The open water season is approximately 217 days.
Are there boat ramps on Little Bowstring Lake?
- Little Bowstring Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Little Bowstring Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Little Bowstring Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
11 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
MNPCA11 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
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