Little Pine Lake
Otter Tail County, Minnesota2,080 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Little Pine Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- zebra mussel
- 63 ft max depth
- Public access
Little Pine Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 63 ft. Surface area: 2079.52 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 26, 2023 caught 10.00 walleye per gill net at Little Pine Lake. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of Little Pine Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 70 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Little Pine Lake is a 2,080-acre mesotrophic lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 63 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 20 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 65 other monitored lakes in Otter Tail County, Little Pine Lake ranks #54 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-08-06. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Little Pine Lake covers about 2,100 acres in Otter Tail County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 20, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Little Pine Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Little Pine Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing20 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 20
- Deep water63 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water2,080 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyModerate algae
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. Little Pine Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Little Pine 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 Pine Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Little Pine Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.5 ft. Phosphorus 26 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 10.1 µg/L. TSI 50.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 9.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 26µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 10.1µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 50 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Little Pine Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Little Pine Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Oct (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (61°F) to its warmest (77°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 28 field readings (2010–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Pine Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Little Pine Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (40,179 cells/mL) on November 29, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 26, 2023 caught 10.00 walleye per gill net at Little Pine Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Little Pine Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-06-12 (Targeted Survey).
14 surveys on file · most recent 2024-06-12 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spottail Shiner | 58.32 | ||
| Yellow Perch | 52.91 | 5–8 in 2023-06-26 | 0.15 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 10.66 | ||
| White Sucker | 9.59 | 10–19 in 2023-06-26 | 1.86 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.
Yellow Perch
White Sucker
From the 2024-06-12 survey
Little Pine Lake is a 1,969-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in northeastern Otter Tail County approximately two miles north of Perham, MN. Little Pine Lake is a part of the Otter Tail River Watershed and is connected to Big Pine Lake via the Otter Tail River. The Otter Tail River inlet is located…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Pine Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little PineFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little PinePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
63 ft
Surface area
2,080 acres
Shoreline
7.3 mi
Littoral zone
34%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
385 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,322 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Little Pine Lake (East)Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Little Pine Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Pine Lake in Otter Tail 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 Pine 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 →
Follow Little Pine Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Pine Lake
- → Little Pine Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Little Pine Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Little Pine Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Little Pine 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 Trend: Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2020–2024).
Water clarity
Improving5 years
Phosphorus
Stable-0.2 µg/L/yr5 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-2.2 µg/L/yr5 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 20
Earliest Mar 30, 2016 · Latest May 6, 2022
Typical ice-in
Dec 1
Earliest Nov 18, 2018 · Latest Dec 20, 2002
Most recent ice-out
May 3
2023
20 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Little Pine Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Little Pine Lake (completed 1933), built primarily for recreation on the Otter Tail River; gravity-type dam, 7 ft tall and 105 ft long.
- Surface area
- 2,100 ac
- Normal storage
- 63,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 67,200 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 389 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00213 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Little Pine Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN56-0142-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about Little Pine Lake
Where is Little Pine Lake?
- Little Pine Lake is a lake in Otter Tail 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 Pine Lake?
- Little Pine Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 63 ft. Surface area: 2079.52 acres.
Is Little Pine Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Little Pine Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Little Pine Lake?
- Little Pine Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in October, from 28 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Pine Lake?
- Little Pine Lake has a maximum depth of 63 feet. The lake covers 2079.52 acres.
What fish are in Little Pine Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Pine Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, burbot, common carp, freshwater drum, lake sturgeon, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Little Pine Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Little Pine Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 26, 2023 caught 10.00 walleye per gill net at Little Pine Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Little Pine Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Little Pine Lake thaw?
- Little Pine Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 20. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 225 days.
Does Little Pine Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Little Pine Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (40,179 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Little Pine Lake?
- Little Pine Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Little Pine Lake (East). Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Little Pine Lake?
- Little Pine 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.
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Where this data comes from
32 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA32 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
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