Little Cut Foot Lake
Itasca County, Minnesota619 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Little Cut Foot Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- zebra mussel
- 20 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Little Cut Foot Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 42 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 619.1 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 19, 2023 caught 0.75 walleye per gill net at Little Cut Foot Lake. DNR survey details →
Little Cut Foot Lake is a 619-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 20 feet (9-foot average). Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Little Cut Foot Lake ranks #69 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-14. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Little Cut Foot Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing15 species recorded
- Camping2 public campgrounds nearby
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Little Cut Foot Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Little Cut Foot Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Little Cut Foot Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 6.6 ft. Phosphorus 42 µg/L. TSI 54.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 6.6ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 42µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 54 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Little Cut Foot Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Little Cut Foot Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 70°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (57°F) to its warmest (70°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 72 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Cut Foot Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 19, 2023 caught 0.75 walleye per gill net at Little Cut Foot Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Little Cut Foot Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-05-05 (Targeted Survey).
13 surveys on file · most recent 2025-05-05 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 17.49 | 13–15 in 2012-06-18 | 1.32 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 16.12 | 5–10 in 2023-06-19 | 0.29 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 12.26 | 7–10 in 2023-06-19 | 0.47 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 4.26 | 8–14 in 2023-06-19 | 0.79 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.15 | 10–32 in 2023-06-19 | 1.74 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Tullibee (Cisco)
Yellow Perch
Black Bullhead
Brown Bullhead
From the 2025-05-05 survey
Black Crappie were collected as part of a broad research project investigating populations across Minnesota. Spring trap net surveys collected a total of 151 fish. Individuals averaged 10.4 inches with the largest individual being 13.4 inches. Growth was rapid and total length averaged 8.3 and 11.5 inches at age 3 and…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Cut Foot 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 Cut Foot SiouxFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Little Cut Foot Sioux (0663)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Little Cut Foot SiouxFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little Cut Foot SiouxPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
20 ft
Average depth
9 ft
Surface area
619 acres
Shoreline
12.4 mi
Littoral zone
86%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Recreation & Access
- MosomoPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Little Cut Foot Lake
- Onegume0.7 km
- Mosomo Point1.3 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Little Cut Foot Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Cut Foot 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. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Little Cut Foot Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Little Cut Foot Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Cut Foot Lake
- → Little Cut Foot Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Little Cut Foot Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Little Cut Foot Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Little Cut Foot Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water quality readings over time
2 seasons of samples on record (2024–2025). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Stable2 years
Phosphorus
Improving-9 µg/L/yr2 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-4.3 µg/L/yr2 years
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Little Cut Foot Lake
Where is Little Cut Foot Lake?
- Little Cut Foot Lake is a lake in Itasca County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Little Cut Foot Lake?
- Little Cut Foot Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 42 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 619.1 acres.
Is Little Cut Foot Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Little Cut Foot Lake?
- Little Cut Foot Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in October, from 72 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Cut Foot Lake?
- Little Cut Foot Lake has a maximum depth of 20 feet and an average depth of 9 feet. The lake covers 619.1 acres.
What fish are in Little Cut Foot Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Cut Foot Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Little Cut Foot Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Little Cut Foot Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 19, 2023 caught 0.75 walleye per gill net at Little Cut Foot Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Little Cut Foot Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Little Cut Foot Lake?
- Little Cut Foot Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Mosomo. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Little Cut Foot Lake?
- Little Cut Foot Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Are there campgrounds on Little Cut Foot Lake?
- Little Cut Foot Lake has 2 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Onegume, Mosomo Point. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Little Cut Foot Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Itasca County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Rainy Lake Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Where this data comes from
23 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX23 samples · 2024–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Nitrate-Nitrite Nitrogen by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles