North Lindstrom Lake
Chisago County, Minnesota142 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for North Lindstrom Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Impaired biota (cause unknown)
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- 29 ft max depth
North Lindstrom Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 141.85 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 15, 2019 caught 0.83 walleye per gill net at North Lindstrom Lake. DNR survey details →
North Lindstrom Lake is a 142-acre mesotrophic lake in Chisago County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 29 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 29 other monitored lakes in Chisago County, North Lindstrom Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-16. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
North Lindstrom Lake covers about 140 acres in Chisago County. The median ice-out date is April 2, which is when the open-water season begins. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near North Lindstrom Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What North Lindstrom Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing13 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 2
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
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. North Lindstrom Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether North Lindstrom 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 North Lindstrom Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for North Lindstrom 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 14.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.3 µg/L. TSI 45.
| 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 | 14.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 3.3µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 45 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about North Lindstrom Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
North Lindstrom Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (60°F) to its warmest (78°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 44 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full North Lindstrom Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 15, 2019 caught 0.83 walleye per gill net at North Lindstrom Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows North Lindstrom 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
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2019-07-15 (Standard Survey).
9 surveys on file · most recent 2019-07-15 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 43.43 | 3–8 in 2019-07-15 | 0.13 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 42.55 | ||
| Largemouth Bass | 41.55 | 5–19 in 2019-07-15 | 0.48 lb |
| Black Crappie | 10.57 | 4–8 in 2019-07-15 | 0.2 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
Largemouth Bass
Black Crappie
From the 2019-07-15 survey
North Lindstrom Lake is a fertile 137 acre basin located in southern Chisago County within the city of Lindstrom. The lake's south shore is connected to South Lindstrom Lake by a narrow channel, navigable at normal water levels. North Center Lake connects to the north east end of the lake by a 3/4 mile stream. The…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for North Lindstrom Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — North LindstromFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
29 ft
Surface area
142 acres
Shoreline
2.3 mi
Littoral zone
39%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
No
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
23 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
886 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays near North Lindstrom Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near North Lindstrom Lake in Chisago 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 North Lindstrom 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 North Lindstrom Lake
- → North Lindstrom Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → North Lindstrom Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → North Lindstrom Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from North Lindstrom 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
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-2.31 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-0.89 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 2
Earliest Apr 1, 2015 · Latest Apr 20, 2022
Most recent ice-out
Apr 2
2026
3 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
North Lindstrom Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN13-0035-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Chisago County
Frequently asked questions about North Lindstrom Lake
Where is North Lindstrom Lake?
- North Lindstrom Lake is a lake in Chisago County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of North Lindstrom Lake?
- North Lindstrom Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 141.85 acres.
Is North Lindstrom Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. North Lindstrom Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of North Lindstrom Lake?
- North Lindstrom Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in September, from 44 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is North Lindstrom Lake?
- North Lindstrom Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet. The lake covers 141.85 acres.
What fish are in North Lindstrom Lake?
- Fish species found in North Lindstrom Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. North Lindstrom Lake is located in Chisago County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at North Lindstrom Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 15, 2019 caught 0.83 walleye per gill net at North Lindstrom Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows North Lindstrom 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 North Lindstrom Lake thaw?
- North Lindstrom Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 2.
Can I fish at North Lindstrom Lake?
- Public access to North Lindstrom Lake is listed as no on the lake record, so confirm before you make the trip. 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 North Lindstrom Lake across LakeQuality
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
88 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
MNPCA88 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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 size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate