Little Winnibigoshish Lake
Itasca County, Minnesota1,002 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- zebra mussel
- #63 of 72 in the county
- 28 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Little Winnibigoshish Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 32 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 1001.62 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.4 ft
- Typical in September
- 68°F
- Max depth
- 28 ft
- Area
- 1,002 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
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Free interactive depth-contour map of Little Winnibigoshish Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 30 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Little Winnibigoshish Lake is a 1,002-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 28 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Little Winnibigoshish Lake ranks #63 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-23. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Little Winnibigoshish Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing16 species recorded
- Big water1,002 acres
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.
The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.4 ft. Phosphorus 32 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 10.5 µg/L. TSI 51. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 32 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Little Winnibigoshish Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in Oct (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 49 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Winnibigoshish Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 28 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,002 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 21% |
| Public Access | Yes |
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 Winnibigoshish Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
County Ranking
Ranked #63 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Little Winnibigoshish Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Little Winnibigoshish Lake
Where is Little Winnibigoshish Lake?
- Little Winnibigoshish Lake is a lake in Itasca County, Minnesota. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Little Winnibigoshish Lake?
- Little Winnibigoshish Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 32 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 1001.62 acres.
Is Little Winnibigoshish Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Little Winnibigoshish Lake?
- Little Winnibigoshish Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September, from 49 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Winnibigoshish Lake?
- Little Winnibigoshish Lake has a maximum depth of 28 feet. The lake covers 1001.62 acres.
What fish are in Little Winnibigoshish Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Winnibigoshish Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Little Winnibigoshish Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
Explore Little Winnibigoshish Lake across LakeQuality
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Compare Little Winnibigoshish Lake With Nearby Lakes
Cass County · Grade C
Itasca County · Grade B
Cass County · Grade A
Itasca County · Grade D
Itasca County · Grade A
Where this data comes from
24 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX24 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Nitrate-Nitrite Nitrogen by Colorimetry
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