Rove Lake
Rove Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 130 ft. Surface area: 1344.33 acres.
- Clarity
- 9 ft
- Max depth
- 130 ft
- Area
- 1,344 acres
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- May 5
- Open water
- 217 days
Next lake in Cook County
Why Rove 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 Rove Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). 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.
Rove Lake is a 1,344-acre lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 130 feet (42-foot average). The lake supports 7 documented fish species including burbot, cisco species, and green sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-07-30. 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 Rove Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Rove Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Rove Lake in Cook 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 Rove Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 130 ft |
| Average Depth | 42 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,344 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 18.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 19% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Clearwater LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Rove Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
15 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-11 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 9.17 | 0.69 lb |
| CIS | 7.69 | 0.85 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 2.78 | 0.24 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 2.61 | 0.6 lb |
| Lake Trout | 2.54 | 1.74 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.62 | 2.05 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.
Tullibee (Cisco)
CIS
Yellow Perch
Smallmouth Bass
From the 2025-08-11 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Clearwater Lake on August 11th, 2025. This was done to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Trout, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake (Cisco,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Rove Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ClearwaterFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Clearwater (1828)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ClearwaterPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (51 observations).
Estimated open water season: 217 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-04-03 (2012) | 2014-05-20 (2014) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-20 (2018) | 2015-12-26 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-04-26
Graded lakes near Rove Lake
Rove Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Rove Lake
What is the water quality grade for Rove Lake?
- Rove Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 130 ft. Surface area: 1344.33 acres.
Is Rove Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Rove Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Rove Lake?
- Rove Lake has a maximum depth of 130 feet and an average depth of 42 feet. The lake covers 1344.33 acres.
What fish are in Rove Lake?
- Fish species found in Rove Lake include burbot, cisco species, green sunfish, lake trout, smallmouth bass, white sucker, yellow perch. Rove Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.
When does Rove Lake thaw?
- Rove Lake typically has ice-out around May 5. Ice typically forms around Dec 8. The open water season is approximately 217 days.
Are there boat ramps on Rove Lake?
- Rove Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Clearwater Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Rove Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA1 sample · 2024
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