Little Turtle Lake
Little Turtle Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 491.68 acres.
- Clarity
- 6 ft
- Max depth
- 29 ft
- Area
- 492 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 19
- Open water
- 209 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Little Turtle 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 Turtle 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 Turtle Lake is a 492-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 29 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-03. 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 Turtle Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 6 ft. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6 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 Turtle Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Turtle Lake in Itasca 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 Turtle Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft |
| Surface Area | 492 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 46% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Little Turtle LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Turtle Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2020-07-27 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 30.33 | 0.14 lb |
| Bluegill | 11.05 | 0.32 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.72 | 2.1 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 5.70 | 0.71 lb |
| Walleye | 3.70 | 1.65 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 2.58 | 1.14 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
Tullibee (Cisco)
From the 2020-07-27 survey
The 2015 lake management plan (LMP) indicated Bluegill and Walleye were primary management species while Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike were secondary. The LMP goal was to maintain a Walleye gill-net catch rate at 5.0/net. Only gill nets were used in the 2020 survey. Information from the 2020 spring electrofishing…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Turtle 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 TurtleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Little Turtle (0686)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Little TurtleFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little TurtlePublic 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 | -0.138 m/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (7 observations).
Estimated open water season: 209 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2015-04-15 (2015) | 2022-05-08 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-07 (2003) | 2021-11-24 (2021) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-05-08
Graded lakes near Little Turtle Lake
Little Turtle Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Little Turtle Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Turtle Lake?
- Little Turtle Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 491.68 acres.
Is Little Turtle Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Little Turtle 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 Turtle Lake?
- Little Turtle Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet. The lake covers 491.68 acres.
What fish are in Little Turtle Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Turtle Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Little Turtle Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does Little Turtle Lake thaw?
- Little Turtle Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 19. Ice typically forms around Nov 14. The open water season is approximately 209 days.
Are there boat ramps on Little Turtle Lake?
- Little Turtle Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Little Turtle Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
14 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA14 samples · 2020–2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
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