Partridge Lake
Crow Wing County, MinnesotaLimited DataOligotrophic
Partridge Lake sits at the top of the Minnesota PCA grading rubric with an A, a mark reached by the cleanest lakes in Minnesota.
The lake's low TSI puts it in oligotrophic territory — the cleanest of the four trophic classes, but also the most vulnerable to nutrient-driven shifts. A maximum depth of 42 ft puts Partridge Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. At 188 acres, Partridge Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 3.2 miles of shoreline. Among the 120 graded lakes in Crow Wing County, Partridge Lake ranks 10 — in the top quartile locally.
No invasive species are currently listed at Partridge Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery is bass-led, with 10 documented species across the lake's records. A documented public access point at Partridge Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-07-31. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 16.2 ft down. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16.2 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 42 ft |
| Surface Area | 187.56 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 62% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Partridge Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Partridge Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Partridge Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.562 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.25 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 120 lakes in Crow Wing County
Nearby Lakes in Crow Wing County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Partridge Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-31 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 60.41 | 0.11 lb |
| JND | 40.87 | — |
| Yellow Bass | 15.87 | 0.29 lb |
| CNM | 14.05 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 12.73 | 0.83 lb |
| BCS | 8.11 | — |
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
Yellow Bass
Largemouth Bass
From the 2023-07-31 survey
Partridge Lake is a 187 acre lake located three miles north of Garrison in Crow Wing County. A small gravel access is located on the east side of the lake. Access is also possible through a channel from Turtle Lake. Northern Pike were sampled in high numbers at 10.0/gill net, when compared to similar lakes. Average…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Partridge Lake. 3 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PartridgeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Partridge (0173)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PartridgePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2020-07-31
Monitoring stations: 1