Lougee Lake
Lougee Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 16.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 53 ft. Surface area: 211.87 acres.
- Clarity
- 16.1 ft
- Max depth
- 53 ft
- Area
- 212 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 9
- Open water
- 228 days
Next lake in Crow Wing County
Lougee Lake is a 212-acre mesotrophic lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 53 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Crow Wing County, Lougee Lake ranks #42 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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)
Crystal clear, you can see 16.1 ft down. Phosphorus level: 18.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 18.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Lougee Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lougee Lake in Crow Wing 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 Lougee Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 53 ft |
| Surface Area | 212 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 74% |
| 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 Lougee Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1997-06-24 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 71.54 | 0.07 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 31.73 | 0.51 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 11.23 | 0.13 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 6.13 | 0.21 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.04 | 2.59 lb |
| Black Crappie | 4.11 | 0.14 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.
Bluegill
Yellow Bass
Pumpkinseed
Hybrid Sunfish
From the 1997-06-24 survey
Lougee is a 217 acre lake located about five miles north of Merrifield, in Crow Wing County. Maximum depth is 53 feet and about 72% of the surface area is less than fifteen feet deep. In 1997 there were 59 homes/cabins located along the 2.2 miles of shoreline. Public accesses are present on the south and northwest…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Lougee Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LougeeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — LougeePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.159 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.23 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.24 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (47 observations).
Estimated open water season: 228 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-13 (2024) | 2013-05-10 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-07 (2017) | 2016-12-08 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-02
County Ranking
Ranked #42 of 85 lakes in Crow Wing County
Nearby Lakes in Crow Wing County
Frequently asked questions about Lougee Lake
What is the water quality grade for Lougee Lake?
- Lougee Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 16.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 53 ft. Surface area: 211.87 acres.
Is Lougee Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Lougee Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Lougee Lake?
- Lougee Lake has a maximum depth of 53 feet. The lake covers 211.87 acres.
What fish are in Lougee Lake?
- Fish species found in Lougee Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Lougee Lake is located in Crow Wing County, Minnesota.
When does Lougee Lake thaw?
- Lougee Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 9. Ice typically forms around Nov 23. The open water season is approximately 228 days.
Explore Lougee Lake across LakeGrade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
149 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA149 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate