Little Shoepack Lake
Little Shoepack Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 51.39 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.2 ft
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 51 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- No
Next lake in St. Louis County
Why Little Shoepack 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 Shoepack 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 Shoepack Lake is a 51-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including muskellunge, white sucker, and yellow perch. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-08-01. 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 Shoepack Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 6.2 ft. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Little Shoepack Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Shoepack Lake in St. Louis 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 Shoepack Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 51 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 99% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Shoepack Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-21 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 37.12 | 0.04 lb |
| CNM | 20.20 | — |
| IOD | 6.34 | — |
| GOS | 4.59 | 0.01 lb |
| BNS | 3.58 | — |
| Muskellunge | 2.75 | 1.76 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.
Yellow Perch
GOS
Muskellunge
From the 2025-07-21 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Little Shoepack Lake, which is located within Voyageurs National Park, was conducted on July 21- July 22, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Shoepack Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BootFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.06 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.55 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Little Shoepack Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN69-0868-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.29 km)
Graded lakes near Little Shoepack Lake
Little Shoepack Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Little Shoepack Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Shoepack Lake?
- Little Shoepack Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 51.39 acres.
Is Little Shoepack Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Little Shoepack 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 Shoepack Lake?
- Little Shoepack Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 51.39 acres.
What fish are in Little Shoepack Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Shoepack Lake include muskellunge, white sucker, yellow perch. Little Shoepack Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
3 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- USGS Minnesota Water Science Center
USGS-MN3 samples · 2023
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder