Pearl Lake
Pearl Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 54 ft. Surface area: 279.59 acres.
- Clarity
- 10 ft
- Typical in August
- 61°F
- Max depth
- 54 ft
- Area
- 280 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 23
- Open water
- 213 days
Next lake in Becker County
Pearl Lake is a 280-acre mesotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 54 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Pearl Lake ranks #43 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Phosphorus level: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 18 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Pearl Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pearl Lake in Becker 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
Pearl Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 62°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 64°F) and coldest in May (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 416 field readings (2010–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pearl Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 54 ft |
| Surface Area | 280 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 60% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Pearl LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Pearl Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-19 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 32.44 | 0.19 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 11.68 | 0.83 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 9.59 | 1.08 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 8.74 | 0.06 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 7.56 | 1.05 lb |
| Northern Pike | 7.00 | 1.76 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
Black Bullhead
Brown Bullhead
Green Sunfish
From the 2024-08-19 survey
Pearl Lake is a 280-acre lake southwest of Detroit Lakes, MN, within the Ottertail River Watershed. There is a public access on the southeast side of the lake. Pearl Lake is primarily noted for its Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and panfish angling, with occasional catches of Walleye. A standard fisheries survey was…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Pearl Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PearlFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Pearl (1184)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PearlFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PearlPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.047 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.14 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.05 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (31 observations).
Estimated open water season: 213 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-23 (2012) | 2023-05-23 (2023) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-10 (2017) | 2015-11-30 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-05-23
County Ranking
Ranked #43 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Pearl Lake
What is the water quality grade for Pearl Lake?
- Pearl Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 54 ft. Surface area: 279.59 acres.
Is Pearl Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Pearl Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Pearl Lake?
- Pearl Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in August, from 416 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Pearl Lake?
- Pearl Lake has a maximum depth of 54 feet. The lake covers 279.59 acres.
What fish are in Pearl Lake?
- Fish species found in Pearl Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow perch. Pearl Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
When does Pearl Lake thaw?
- Pearl Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 23. Ice typically forms around Nov 22. The open water season is approximately 213 days.
Are there boat ramps on Pearl Lake?
- Pearl Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pearl Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Pearl Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
42 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA42 samples · 2021–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent 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
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