Mitchell Lake
Mitchell Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 78 ft. Surface area: 429.05 acres.
- Clarity
- 7 ft
- Typical in August
- 59°F
- Max depth
- 78 ft
- Area
- 429 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 17
- Open water
- 239 days
Next lake in Crow Wing County
Mitchell Lake is a 429-acre mesotrophic lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 78 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 18 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, Mitchell Lake ranks #70 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus level: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 18 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.1 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Mitchell Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mitchell 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.
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Water Temperature
Mitchell Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Aug (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 107 field readings (2021–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Mitchell Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Mitchell Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (84,723 cells/mL) on May 2, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 78 ft |
| Surface Area | 429 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 28% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Mitchell LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Mitchell 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-02 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 58.48 | — |
| LGP | 42.63 | — |
| Spottail Shiner | 40.06 | — |
| BKF | 21.16 | — |
| MTS | 11.67 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 10.05 | 0.11 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
From the 2024-08-02 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles were collected in the deepest basin in Mitchell Lake on August 2, 2024, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. Cisco…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Mitchell Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MitchellFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Mitchell (0235)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — MitchellFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MitchellPublic 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 | → Stable | -0.047 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.61 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.41 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (13 observations).
Estimated open water season: 239 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2017-04-07 (2017) | 2022-05-06 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-19 (2018) | 2004-12-15 (2004) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-17
County Ranking
Ranked #70 of 85 lakes in Crow Wing County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Mitchell Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Crow Wing County
Frequently asked questions about Mitchell Lake
What is the water quality grade for Mitchell Lake?
- Mitchell Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 78 ft. Surface area: 429.05 acres.
Is Mitchell Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Mitchell Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 9.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Mitchell Lake?
- Mitchell Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in August, from 107 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Mitchell Lake?
- Mitchell Lake has a maximum depth of 78 feet. The lake covers 429.05 acres.
What fish are in Mitchell Lake?
- Fish species found in Mitchell Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), burbot, greater redhorse, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Mitchell Lake is located in Crow Wing County, Minnesota.
When does Mitchell Lake thaw?
- Mitchell Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 17. Ice typically forms around Dec 12. The open water season is approximately 239 days.
Does Mitchell Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Mitchell 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 Mitchell Lake?
- Mitchell Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Mitchell Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Mitchell Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
183 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
MNPCA183 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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate