Nokay Lake
Crow Wing County, MinnesotaLimited DataMesotrophic
Nokay Lake earns a C — middle-of-the-pack water quality, with one or two parameters dragging the average down from a stronger grade.
A TSI near 47 places Nokay Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. Nokay Lake reaches 42 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. The lake's 704 acres and 6.3 miles of shoreline put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. Within the 120 graded lakes of Crow Wing County, Nokay Lake sits at rank 108, near the bottom of the county list.
No invasive species are currently listed at Nokay Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. Walleye are documented at Nokay Lake, one of 15 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Nokay Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Ice-out has been recorded 12 times at Nokay Lake, with a median around Apr 16. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-28. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Track Nokay Lake
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.2 ft. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.2 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 42 ft |
| Surface Area | 703.56 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 31% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Nokay Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Nokay Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Nokay Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.358 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (20 observations).
Estimated open water season: 222 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-14 (2024) | 2008-04-30 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-19 (2017) | 2015-12-18 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-13
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #108 of 120 lakes in Crow Wing County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Nokay Lake holds Grade C. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- ACrooked LakeCrow Wing County · mi · Two grade letters higher (C → A)
- APlacid LakeCrow Wing County · mi · Two grade letters higher (C → A)
- ABay LakeCrow Wing County · mi · Two grade letters higher (C → A)
- AClearwater LakeCrow Wing County · mi · Two grade letters higher (C → A)
- APortage LakeCrow Wing County · mi · Two grade letters higher (C → A)
Nearby Lakes in Crow Wing County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Nokay Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Nokay Lake With Nearby Lakes
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2020-06-29 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 50.86 | — |
| IOD | 24.13 | — |
| JND | 22.12 | — |
| Bluegill | 20.41 | 0.15 lb |
| BKF | 19.46 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 17.95 | 0.96 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
Largemouth Bass
From the 2020-06-29 survey
Nokay Lake is a 660 acre lake located 10 miles east of Brainerd in Crow Wing County. A small public access is located on the west side of the lake. Nokay reaches depths of 42 feet, with 33% of the lake 15' deep or less. The shoreline is moderately developed with one resort present. Extensive bulrush beds are located…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Nokay Lake. 4 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — NokayFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Nokay (0031)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — NokayFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — NokayPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Nokay Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Nokay Lake (completed 1966), built primarily for recreation on the Nokasippi River; earth-type dam, 8 ft tall and 32 ft long.
- Surface area
- 697 ac
- Normal storage
- 30 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 120 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 24.7 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00735 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Nokay 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 MN18-0104-00 · Official waterbody report
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2024-09-28
Monitoring stations: 1