Pine Lake
Pine Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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.
- Clarity
- 6.5 ft
- Max depth
- 28 ft
- Area
- 378 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 16
- Open water
- 228 days
Next lake in Aitkin County
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). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 6.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 12 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 23 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 12 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Pine Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 28 ft |
| Average Depth | 20 ft |
| Surface Area | 378 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 25% |
| 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 Pine Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-10-28 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 25.29 | 0.11 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 20.91 | 1.45 lb |
| Bluegill | 10.00 | 0.18 lb |
| MTS | 8.61 | — |
| JND | 5.84 | — |
| Walleye | 4.39 | 1.67 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.
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
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.265 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.01 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.15 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (17 observations).
Estimated open water season: 228 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-12 (2024) | 2018-05-01 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-20 (2018) | 2017-12-12 (2017) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-08
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
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN01-0001-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 18 lakes in Aitkin County
Nearby Lakes in Aitkin County
Frequently asked questions about Pine Lake
What is the water quality grade for Pine Lake?
- Pine Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Pine Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 12 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
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.
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.
Explore Pine Lake across LakeGrade
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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)
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