Pine Lake
Aitkin County, Minnesota378 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Pine Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 28 ft max depth
- Public access
Pine Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 377.76 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 9, 2025 caught 0.67 walleye per trap net at Pine Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–17 inches. DNR survey details →
Pine Lake is a 378-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 28 feet (20-foot average). Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 17 other monitored lakes in Aitkin County, Pine Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-21. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Pine Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing13 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 16
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Pine Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Pine 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 Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Pine Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 6.5 ft. Phosphorus 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 12 µg/L. TSI 51.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 6.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 23µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 12µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 51 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Pine Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 9, 2025 caught 0.67 walleye per trap net at Pine Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–17 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Pine Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 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: 2025-10-28 (Targeted Survey).
11 surveys on file · most recent 2025-10-28 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 25.29 | 5–12 in 2025-06-09 | 0.11 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 20.91 | 6 in 2025-06-09 | 1.45 lb |
| Bluegill | 10.00 | 3–8 in 2025-06-09 | 0.18 lb |
| Walleye | 4.39 | 5–17 in 2025-10-28 | 1.67 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.
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Walleye
From the 2025-10-28 survey
Pine Lake (South Pine) is a 372-acre lake in southeastern Aitkin County located eleven miles northwest of Sandstone and is within the Kettle River Watershed. Due to its connectivity with Big Pine (58-0128-00) it is managed by Hinckley Area Fisheries. The lake has a maximum depth of 28 ft and 26% of the lake is 15 feet…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Pine Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PineFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Pine (0019)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PineFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PinePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
28 ft
Average depth
20 ft
Surface area
378 acres
Shoreline
5 mi
Littoral zone
25%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
16 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,079 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Pine 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 Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pine Lake in Aitkin 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 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 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 Lake
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-3.01 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-1.15 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 16
Earliest Mar 12, 2024 · Latest May 1, 2018
Typical ice-in
Nov 30
Earliest Nov 20, 2018 · Latest Dec 12, 2017
Most recent ice-out
Apr 8
2025
17 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Pine Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN01-0001-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Aitkin County
Frequently asked questions about Pine Lake
Where is Pine Lake?
- Pine Lake is a lake in Aitkin 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 Lake?
- Pine Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 377.76 acres.
Is Pine Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Pine Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Pine Lake?
- Pine Lake has a maximum depth of 28 feet and an average depth of 20 feet. The lake covers 377.76 acres.
What fish are in Pine Lake?
- Fish species found in Pine Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Pine Lake is located in Aitkin County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Pine Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on June 9, 2025 caught 0.67 walleye per trap net at Pine Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–17 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Pine Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Pine Lake thaw?
- Pine Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 16. Ice typically forms around Nov 30. The open water season is approximately 228 days.
Are there boat ramps on Pine Lake?
- Pine Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pine Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Pine Lake?
- Pine 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 Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Aitkin County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Brainerd Lakes area
Top lakes and where to stay in the Mille Lacs Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Rum River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Pine River Watersheds (Brainerd Lakes), ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Pine Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
199 measurements from 4 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
MNPCA199 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
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
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