Pine Island Lake
Todd County, Minnesota238 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Pine Island Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- 26 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Pine Island Lake in Todd County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 15.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 238.18 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on May 23, 2024 caught 0.17 walleye per gill net at Pine Island Lake. DNR survey details →
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 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-01. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Pine Island Lake covers about 240 acres in Todd County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 6, which is when the open-water season begins. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Pine Island Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Pine Island Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water15.5 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing11 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 6
Swimming conditions
No readingLimited data
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Pine Island Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Pine Island Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Pine Island Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Crystal clear, you can see 15.5 ft down. TSI 38.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 15.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | No reading The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. | |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 38 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Pine Island Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Pine Island Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (59°F) to its warmest (75°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on May 23, 2024 caught 0.17 walleye per gill net at Pine Island Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Pine Island Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-05-23 (Targeted Survey).
11 surveys on file · most recent 2024-05-23 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 56.34 | 3–9 in 2024-05-23 | 0.11 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 16.83 | 7–8 in 2024-05-23 | 0.13 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 13.17 | 5–18 in 2024-05-23 | 0.98 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Lake Details
Max depth
26 ft
Average depth
13 ft
Surface area
238 acres
Shoreline
3.2 mi
Littoral zone
52%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
2 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,306 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Pine Island LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
Follow Pine Island Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Pine Island Lake
- → Pine Island Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Pine Island Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Pine Island Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Pine Island Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving5 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 6
Earliest Mar 15, 2024 · Latest May 11, 2013
Typical ice-in
Nov 29
Earliest Nov 11, 2019 · Latest Dec 19, 2015
Most recent ice-out
Mar 15
2024
24 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Nearby Lakes in Todd County
Frequently asked questions about Pine Island Lake
Where is Pine Island Lake?
- Pine Island Lake is a lake in Todd County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Pine Island Lake?
- Pine Island Lake in Todd County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 15.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 238.18 acres.
Is Pine Island Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Pine Island Lake?
- Pine Island Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Pine Island Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on May 23, 2024 caught 0.17 walleye per gill net at Pine Island Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Pine Island Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pine Island Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Pine Island Lake?
- Pine Island Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Pine Island Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Todd County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Alexandria Lakes area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Sauk River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Pine Island Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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