Little Star Lake
Crow Wing County, MinnesotaLimited DataOligotrophic
On the LakeGrade rubric, Little Star Lake pulls an A: clarity at 18.5 ft and phosphorus readings still being added put it in the top bracket for Minnesota.
A TSI value of 35 puts Little Star Lake in the oligotrophic range, where biological productivity stays low and the water column remains clear. A maximum depth of 30 ft puts Little Star Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. Little Star Lake is small — 49 acres alongside 1.5 miles of shoreline — which makes it sensitive to even modest changes in watershed runoff or recreational pressure. Little Star Lake ranks 36 of 120 in Crow Wing County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.
No invasive species are currently listed at Little Star Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery is bass-led, with 13 documented species across the lake's records. No formal public access is documented at Little Star Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 18.5 ft down. Trophic State Index: 35.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 18.5 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 35 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 49.24 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 26% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Little Star Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Little Star Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Little Star Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.032 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.3 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #36 of 120 lakes in Crow Wing County
Nearby Lakes in Crow Wing County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Little Star Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2010-07-26 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| BKS | 209.95 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 58.09 | — |
| BCS | 15.40 | — |
| Bluegill | 12.32 | 0.21 lb |
| BKF | 11.00 | — |
| Green Sunfish | 6.60 | — |
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.
Bluegill
From the 2010-07-26 survey
Little Star Lake is a 50 acre lake located 5 miles southwest of Crosslake. The lake is part of a chain of lakes characterized as having hard water, low fertility, and very good water clarity. The maximum depth is approximately 30 feet and about 26% of the lake is less than 15 feet deep. Northern pike are the lakes…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Star Lake. 1 report on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little StarFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Little Star 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 MN18-0312-03 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.99 km)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2024-09-26
Monitoring stations: 1