Little Hanging Horn Lake
Little Hanging Horn Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 100.08 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.5 ft
- Max depth
- 31 ft
- Area
- 100 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 19
- Open water
- 219 days
Next lake in Carlton County
Why Little Hanging Horn 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 Hanging Horn 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 Hanging Horn Lake is a 100-acre lake in Carlton County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 31 feet (11-foot average). The lake supports 11 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 2023-10-20. 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 Hanging Horn Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Little Hanging Horn Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 31 ft |
| Average Depth | 11 ft |
| Surface Area | 100 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 70% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Bear LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Hanging Horn Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2015-08-03 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 15.00 | 1.29 lb |
| Bluegill | 12.31 | 0.24 lb |
| Black Crappie | 7.87 | 0.18 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.38 | 1.57 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.40 | 0.24 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 2.38 | 0.88 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Northern Pike
From the 2015-08-03 survey
A standard survey was conducted on Bear Lake during the summer of 2015 to update information about fish populations. Walleye is the primary management species for Bear Lake and fingerlings are stocked during even numbered years. Walleye abundance of 1.0 per gillnet lift was average compared to other Minnesota lakes of…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Hanging Horn Lake. 5 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BearFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Bear (0272)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Bear (2069)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BearFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BearPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.01 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (17 observations).
Estimated open water season: 219 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-24 (2012) | 2014-05-04 (2014) |
| Ice-In | 2009-11-11 (2009) | 2016-12-09 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-05-01
EPA Impairment Status
Little Hanging Horn Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN09-0035-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Carlton County
Frequently asked questions about Little Hanging Horn Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Hanging Horn Lake?
- Little Hanging Horn Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 100.08 acres.
Is Little Hanging Horn Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Little Hanging Horn 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 Hanging Horn Lake?
- Little Hanging Horn Lake has a maximum depth of 31 feet and an average depth of 11 feet. The lake covers 100.08 acres.
What fish are in Little Hanging Horn Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Hanging Horn Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Little Hanging Horn Lake is located in Carlton County, Minnesota.
When does Little Hanging Horn Lake thaw?
- Little Hanging Horn Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 19. Ice typically forms around Nov 24. The open water season is approximately 219 days.
Are there boat ramps on Little Hanging Horn Lake?
- Little Hanging Horn Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bear Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
12 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA12 samples · 2021–2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
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