Little Whitefish Lake
Little Whitefish Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 160.4 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.5 ft
- Max depth
- 15 ft
- Area
- 160 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Little Whitefish Lake is a 160-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 15 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2020. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Little Whitefish Lake ranks #34 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-16. 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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Little Whitefish Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 160 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 99% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Whitefish LakePublic
Fishing Little Whitefish Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1975-08-28 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 27.54 | 0.18 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 0.96 | 0.6 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1975-08-28 survey
Fish species and abundance are indicative of a periodic winterkill lake.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Whitefish Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little WhitefishFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Little Whitefish (0679)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little WhitefishPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
County Ranking
Ranked #34 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Little Whitefish Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Whitefish Lake?
- Little Whitefish Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 160.4 acres.
Is Little Whitefish Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Little Whitefish Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 1.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Little Whitefish Lake?
- Little Whitefish Lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 160.4 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Little Whitefish Lake?
- Little Whitefish Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Whitefish Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Little Whitefish Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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