Rush Island Lake
Rush Island Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 296.78 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 68°F
- Max depth
- 32 ft
- Area
- 297 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 24
- Open water
- 219 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Rush Island Lake is a 297-acre mesotrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 32 feet (19-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2020. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Rush Island Lake ranks #18 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Rush Island Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 18 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Rush Island Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Rush Island Lake in Itasca 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 Rush Island Lake
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 →
Water Temperature
Rush Island Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 64°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 68°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 38 field readings (2010–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Rush Island Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 32 ft |
| Average Depth | 19 ft |
| Surface Area | 297 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 33% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Rush Island LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Rush Island Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-08-16 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 65.80 | 0.18 lb |
| GOS | 49.10 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 6.47 | 2.11 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.91 | 2.12 lb |
| Bluegill | 4.96 | 0.25 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 4.41 | — |
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
Northern Pike
Bluegill
From the 2021-08-16 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Rush-Island Lake was conducted on August 16, 2021, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Rush Island Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Rush IslandFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Rush Island (0672)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Rush IslandFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Rush IslandPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (7 observations).
Estimated open water season: 219 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2002-04-20 (2002) | 2008-05-05 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2008-11-18 (2008) | 2001-12-01 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2008-05-05
County Ranking
Ranked #18 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Rush Island Lake
What is the water quality grade for Rush Island Lake?
- Rush Island Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 296.78 acres.
Is Rush Island Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Rush Island Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Rush Island Lake?
- Rush Island Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August, from 38 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Rush Island Lake?
- Rush Island Lake has a maximum depth of 32 feet and an average depth of 19 feet. The lake covers 296.78 acres.
What fish are in Rush Island Lake?
- Fish species found in Rush Island Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Rush Island Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does Rush Island Lake thaw?
- Rush Island Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 24. Ice typically forms around Nov 29. The open water season is approximately 219 days.
Are there boat ramps on Rush Island Lake?
- Rush Island Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Rush Island Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Rush Island Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Itasca County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Rainy Lake Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Rush Island Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
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
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 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
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