Net Lake
Net Lake in Pine County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 137.78 acres.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Max depth
- 15 ft
- Area
- 138 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 18
- Open water
- 218 days
Next lake in Pine County
Net Lake is a 138-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Pine County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 15 feet (6-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and hybrid sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Pine County, Net Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-10. 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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 36.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 12.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 36.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 12.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Net Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Net Lake in Pine 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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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 15 ft |
| Average Depth | 6 ft |
| Surface Area | 138 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Pickerel LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Net Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2005-08-29 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 21.00 | 0.37 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 9.25 | 1.94 lb |
| Black Crappie | 6.63 | 0.14 lb |
| Bluegill | 5.80 | 0.12 lb |
| White Sucker | 5.18 | 1.03 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 4.00 | 0.28 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.
Black Bullhead
Largemouth Bass
Black Crappie
Bluegill
From the 2005-08-29 survey
Net Lake is a 136-acre lake of moderate fertility. The lake is located east of the town of Nickerson on the boarder of Pine and Carlton Counties within the Nemadji State Forest Area. The immediate shoreline surrounding Net Lake is composed of lake homes and seasonal cabins along the west/northwest shore while…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Net Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — NetFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Net (0312)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.102 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (9 observations).
Estimated open water season: 218 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2015-04-05 (2015) | 2008-04-25 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2014-11-14 (2014) | 2015-11-24 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2015-04-05
EPA Impairment Status
Net Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN58-0038-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Pine County
Nearby Lakes in Pine County
Frequently asked questions about Net Lake
What is the water quality grade for Net Lake?
- Net Lake in Pine County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 137.78 acres.
Is Net Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Net Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 12.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Net Lake?
- Net Lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet and an average depth of 6 feet. The lake covers 137.78 acres.
What fish are in Net Lake?
- Fish species found in Net Lake include black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, white sucker, yellow perch. Net Lake is located in Pine County, Minnesota.
When does Net Lake thaw?
- Net Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 18. Ice typically forms around Nov 22. The open water season is approximately 218 days.
Are there boat ramps on Net Lake?
- Net Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pickerel Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Net Lake across LakeGrade
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
41 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
MNPCA41 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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