Pimushe Lake
Pimushe Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 1230.43 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 63°F
- Max depth
- 40 ft
- Area
- 1,230 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 22
- Open water
- 213 days
Next lake in Beltrami County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Pimushe Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 40 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Pimushe Lake is a 1,230-acre mesotrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 40 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 3 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Pimushe Lake ranks #54 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Pimushe Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 22 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Pimushe Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pimushe Lake in Beltrami 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 Pimushe Lake
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 →
Water Temperature
Pimushe Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 62°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 64°F) and coldest in May (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 120 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pimushe Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 40 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,230 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 17.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 53% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Pimushe Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-07 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| GOS | 13.88 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 10.37 | — |
| BCS | 9.59 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 7.37 | 0.18 lb |
| Bluegill | 5.87 | 0.47 lb |
| BNS | 4.14 | — |
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.
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
From the 2025-08-07 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Pimushe Lake, which is located partially within the Leech Lake Reservation, on August 7th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (oxythermal habitat) available to coldwater fish species such as Cisco,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Pimushe Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PimusheFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Pimushe (1739)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PimushePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.11 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.9 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.92 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (25 observations).
Estimated open water season: 213 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-25 (2012) | 2004-05-20 (2004) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-07 (2003) | 2016-12-05 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2018-05-01
EPA Impairment Status
Pimushe 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 MN04-0032-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #54 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Pimushe Lake
What is the water quality grade for Pimushe Lake?
- Pimushe Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 1230.43 acres.
Is Pimushe Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Pimushe Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Pimushe Lake?
- Pimushe Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August, from 120 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Pimushe Lake?
- Pimushe Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet. The lake covers 1230.43 acres.
What fish are in Pimushe Lake?
- Fish species found in Pimushe Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Pimushe Lake is located in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
When does Pimushe Lake thaw?
- Pimushe Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 22. Ice typically forms around Nov 21. The open water season is approximately 213 days.
Explore Pimushe 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 Beltrami County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Pimushe Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Pimushe Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
81 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA57 samples · 2021–2025 - Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX24 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Nitrate-Nitrite Nitrogen by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate