Little Sturgeon Lake
Little Sturgeon Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 272.4 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 22 ft
- Area
- 272 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 20
Next lake in St. Louis County
Little Sturgeon Lake is a 272-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 22 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and golden redhorse. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in St. Louis County, Little Sturgeon Lake ranks #52 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 4.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.6 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Little Sturgeon Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Sturgeon 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.
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Water Temperature
Little Sturgeon Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 72°F) and coldest in May (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 52 field readings (2018–2019) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Sturgeon Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 22 ft |
| Surface Area | 272 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 20% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Sturgeon RiverPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Sturgeon Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-06-12 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 5.41 | 0.09 lb |
| Bluegill | 5.29 | 0.16 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.52 | 1.95 lb |
| Black Crappie | 2.51 | 0.27 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 1.78 | 0.54 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 1.62 | 0.22 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
Bluegill
Northern Pike
Black Crappie
From the 2023-06-12 survey
Little Sturgeon Lake is located approximately 14 miles northwest of Chisholm, MN and within the Little Fork River Watershed. The 247-acre lake has 54 littoral acres with a 22 foot maximum depth, and is moderately developed along the 3.6 mile shoreline. A public access is located on the north side of the Sturgeon River…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Sturgeon 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 SturgeonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Little Sturgeon (1804)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Little SturgeonFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little SturgeonPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.13 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +4.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (27 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-03-30 (2000) | 2022-05-07 (2022) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-05-07
EPA Impairment Status
Little Sturgeon 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 MN69-0939-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.94 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #52 of 68 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Little Sturgeon Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Sturgeon Lake?
- Little Sturgeon Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 272.4 acres.
Is Little Sturgeon Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Little Sturgeon Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 9.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Little Sturgeon Lake?
- Little Sturgeon Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 52 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2018–2019). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Sturgeon Lake?
- Little Sturgeon Lake has a maximum depth of 22 feet. The lake covers 272.4 acres.
What fish are in Little Sturgeon Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Sturgeon Lake include black crappie, bluegill, golden redhorse, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, pumpkinseed, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Little Sturgeon Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
When does Little Sturgeon Lake thaw?
- Little Sturgeon Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 20.
Are there boat ramps on Little Sturgeon Lake?
- Little Sturgeon Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Sturgeon River. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Little Sturgeon Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in St. Louis County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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State Parks Near Little Sturgeon Lake
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Where this data comes from
23 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA23 samples · 2020–2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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