Pine Lake
Pine Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 450.07 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 69°F
- Max depth
- 14 ft
- Area
- 450 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in St. Louis County
Pine Lake is a 450-acre mesotrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 14 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2020. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including bluegill, hybrid sunfish, and northern pike. Public access is available. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in St. Louis County, Pine Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Pine Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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 7.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 15.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Pine Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pine Lake in St. Louis 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.
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Water Temperature
Pine Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 16 field readings (2019–2019) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pine Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 14 ft |
| Surface Area | 450 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| 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
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2017-06-26 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 16.92 | 0.26 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 9.68 | 0.21 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.05 | 0.15 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.61 | 1.94 lb |
| Walleye | 3.18 | 1.88 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.16 | 2.83 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
Yellow Perch
Pumpkinseed
Northern Pike
From the 2017-06-26 survey
Pine Lake is in Ecological Lake Class 16, which consists of 38 lakes in northeast Minnesota that are large, shallow, and have bog-stained and soft (unmineralized) water. Lake bottom substrates along the shoreline are 30% sand, 30% gravel, 20% boulder, 17% rubble, and 3% muck. Aquatic plants grow to a depth of 4 ft;…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Pine Lake. 3 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 (1095)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PinePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
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 MN69-0001-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 68 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Pine Lake
What is the water quality grade for Pine Lake?
- Pine Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 450.07 acres.
Is Pine Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Pine Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Pine Lake?
- Pine Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August, from 16 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2019). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Pine Lake?
- Pine Lake has a maximum depth of 14 feet. The lake covers 450.07 acres.
What fish are in Pine Lake?
- Fish species found in Pine Lake include bluegill, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Pine Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder