Perch Lake
Perch Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 343.61 acres.
- Clarity
- 13.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 30 ft
- Area
- 344 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- May 4
- Open water
- 200 days
Next lake in St. Louis County
Perch Lake is a 344-acre mesotrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 30 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and hybrid sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in St. Louis County, Perch Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-11. 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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 13.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Perch Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Perch Lake in St. Louis 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
Perch Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 73°F) and coldest in Apr (about 45°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 107 field readings (2018–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Perch Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 344 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 49% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Perch LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Perch Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2016-06-27 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 13.49 | 1.36 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.22 | 0.11 lb |
| White Sucker | 5.61 | 2.15 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.04 | 2.38 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 3.11 | 1.8 lb |
| Black Crappie | 2.52 | 0.52 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.
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
White Sucker
Northern Pike
From the 2016-06-27 survey
Perch Lake is located about 13 miles northwest of Chisholm, MN near and the Sturgeon chain of lakes. The 339 acre lake has 170 littoral acres, a maximum depth of 30 feet, with no inlets or outlets. The lake is heavily developed along the 3.3 mile shoreline. There is a DNR administered concrete boat access on the west…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Perch Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PerchFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Perch (1868)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PerchFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PerchPublic 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 | -0.013 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (16 observations).
Estimated open water season: 200 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2021-04-06 (2021) | 2022-05-07 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-11 (2018) | 2024-11-29 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-24
EPA Impairment Status
Perch Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN69-0932-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 68 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Perch Lake
What is the water quality grade for Perch Lake?
- Perch Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 343.61 acres.
Is Perch Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Perch Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Perch Lake?
- Perch Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 107 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2018–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Perch Lake?
- Perch Lake has a maximum depth of 30 feet. The lake covers 343.61 acres.
What fish are in Perch Lake?
- Fish species found in Perch Lake include black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Perch Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
When does Perch Lake thaw?
- Perch Lake typically has ice-out around May 4. Ice typically forms around Nov 20. The open water season is approximately 200 days.
Are there boat ramps on Perch Lake?
- Perch Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Perch Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Perch Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in St. Louis County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Rainy Lake Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Perch Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
163 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA163 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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