Lower Mission Lake
Crow Wing County, Minnesota732 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Lower Mission Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- 27 ft max depth
- Public access
Lower Mission Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 732.2 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 27, 2022 caught 26.67 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at Lower Mission Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–19 inches. DNR survey details →
Lower Mission Lake is a 732-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 27 feet. Overall water quality is improving 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. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Crow Wing County, Lower Mission Lake ranks #74 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-25. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Lower Mission Lake covers about 730 acres in Crow Wing County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 16, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Lower Mission Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Lower Mission Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing14 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 16
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lower Mission Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Lower Mission Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Lower Mission Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Lower Mission Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.9 ft. Phosphorus 36 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 14 µg/L. TSI 54.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 6.9ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 36µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 14µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 54 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Lower Mission Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Lower Mission Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (64°F) to its warmest (76°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 35 field readings (2021–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lower Mission Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Lower Mission Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (84,723 cells/mL) on November 29, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 27, 2022 caught 26.67 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at Lower Mission Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–19 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lower Mission Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-27 (Targeted Survey).
11 surveys on file · most recent 2022-07-27 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 26.14 | 3–9 in 2022-06-06 | 0.19 lb |
| Northern Pike | 20.77 | 9–38 in 2022-06-06 | 2.29 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 15.83 | 7–19 in 2022-06-06 | 1.14 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Northern Pike
Largemouth Bass
From the 2022-07-27 survey
Lower Mission Lake is a 732 acre lake, with a maximum depth of 27', located just east of the town of Ossipee, MN. Lower Mission is in the Mississippi River-Brainerd Watershed. A nearshore survey was conducted to assess the populations of both game and non-game fish species. Fourteen 100' long sampling stations were…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Lower Mission Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Lower MissionFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Lower MissionPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
27 ft
Surface area
732 acres
Shoreline
6.3 mi
Littoral zone
62%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Recreation & Access
- Lower Mission LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lower Mission Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lower Mission 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 Lower Mission Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lower Mission Lake
- → Lower Mission Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Lower Mission Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Lower Mission Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Lower Mission Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-3.7 µg/L/yr5 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-0.83 µg/L/yr5 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 16
Earliest Mar 21, 2012 · Latest May 10, 2013
Typical ice-in
Nov 20
Earliest Nov 4, 1991 · Latest Dec 25, 2017
Most recent ice-out
Apr 9
2020
129 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Lower Mission Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN18-0243-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Crow Wing County
Frequently asked questions about Lower Mission Lake
Where is Lower Mission Lake?
- Lower Mission Lake is a lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Lower Mission Lake?
- Lower Mission Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 732.2 acres.
Is Lower Mission Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lower Mission Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lower Mission Lake?
- Lower Mission Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September, from 35 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lower Mission Lake?
- Lower Mission Lake has a maximum depth of 27 feet. The lake covers 732.2 acres.
What fish are in Lower Mission Lake?
- Fish species found in Lower Mission Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Lower Mission Lake is located in Crow Wing County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lower Mission Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 27, 2022 caught 26.67 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at Lower Mission Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–19 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lower Mission Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Lower Mission Lake thaw?
- Lower Mission Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 16. Ice typically forms around Nov 20. The open water season is approximately 218 days.
Does Lower Mission Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Lower Mission Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (84,723 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Lower Mission Lake?
- Lower Mission Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lower Mission Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lower Mission Lake?
- Lower Mission Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Lower Mission Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Crow Wing County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
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Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Where this data comes from
95 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA95 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate