Pine Island Lake
Pine Island Lake in Todd County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 15.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 238.18 acres.
- Clarity
- 15.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 26 ft
- Area
- 238 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 6
- Open water
- 237 days
Next lake in Todd County
Why Pine Island Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Pine Island Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Pine Island Lake is a 238-acre lake in Todd County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 26 feet (13-foot average). Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 4 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-01. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Pine Island Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 15.5 ft down. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Pine Island Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pine Island Lake in Todd 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 Pine Island Lake
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Water Temperature
Pine Island Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 43 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pine Island Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 26 ft |
| Average Depth | 13 ft |
| Surface Area | 238 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 52% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Big Lake (South)Public
- Thunder LakePublic
- Pine Island LakePublic
- Big Lake (North)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Pine Island Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-05-23 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| BCS | 56.98 | — |
| Bluegill | 56.34 | 0.11 lb |
| BNS | 45.84 | — |
| Green Sunfish | 16.83 | 0.13 lb |
| SUN | 16.51 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 13.17 | 0.98 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
Green Sunfish
Largemouth Bass
From the 2024-05-23 survey
Pine Island is primarily managed for Northern Pike and Black Crappie and secondarily for Walleye and Largemouth Bass. Pine Island Lake is a relatively shallow lake that is best suited for Northern Pike and panfish. In 2024, a Standard Survey was conducted on Pine Island Lake which included spring daytime…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Pine Island Lake. 5 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Pine IslandFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Pine Island (0889)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Pine Island (2030)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Pine IslandFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Pine IslandPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.338 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (24 observations).
Estimated open water season: 237 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-15 (2024) | 2013-05-11 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2019-11-11 (2019) | 2015-12-19 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-15
Graded lakes near Pine Island Lake
Pine Island Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Todd County
Frequently asked questions about Pine Island Lake
What is the water quality grade for Pine Island Lake?
- Pine Island Lake in Todd County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 15.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 238.18 acres.
Is Pine Island Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Pine Island Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Pine Island Lake?
- Pine Island Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 43 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Pine Island Lake?
- Pine Island Lake has a maximum depth of 26 feet and an average depth of 13 feet. The lake covers 238.18 acres.
What fish are in Pine Island Lake?
- Fish species found in Pine Island Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow perch. Pine Island Lake is located in Todd County, Minnesota.
When does Pine Island Lake thaw?
- Pine Island Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 6. Ice typically forms around Nov 29. The open water season is approximately 237 days.
Are there boat ramps on Pine Island Lake?
- Pine Island Lake has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Big Lake (South), Thunder Lake, Pine Island Lake, Big Lake (North). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Pine Island Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Todd County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
26 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
MNPCA26 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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