Rush Island Lake
Itasca County, Minnesota297 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Rush Island Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 32 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Rush Island Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 16, 2021 caught 0.75 northern pike per hour of electrofishing at Rush Island Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–33 inches. DNR survey details →
Rush Island Lake is a 297-acre mesotrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 32 feet (19-foot average). 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Rush Island Lake covers about 300 acres in Itasca County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 24, which is when the open-water season begins. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Rush Island Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Rush Island Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water10.8 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing14 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 24
- Deep water32 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Rush Island 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 Rush Island Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Rush Island Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 10.8 ft. Phosphorus 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 6 µg/L. TSI 46.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 10.8ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 18µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 6µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 46 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Rush Island Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (56°F) to its warmest (68°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 16, 2021 caught 0.75 northern pike per hour of electrofishing at Rush Island Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–33 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Rush Island Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-08-16 (Targeted Survey).
10 surveys on file · most recent 2021-08-16 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 65.80 | 4–10 in 2021-06-22 | 0.18 lb |
| Golden Shiner | 49.10 | ||
| Largemouth Bass | 6.47 | 19 in 2021-06-22 | 2.11 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.91 | 10–33 in 2021-06-22 | 2.12 lb |
| Bluegill | 4.96 | 3–8 in 2021-06-22 | 0.25 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 4.41 |
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
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
Lake Details
Max depth
32 ft
Average depth
19 ft
Surface area
297 acres
Shoreline
3.3 mi
Littoral zone
33%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
12 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,316 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Rush Island 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 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
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 Rush Island Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Rush Island Lake
- → Rush Island Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Rush Island Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Rush Island Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Rush Island Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 24
Earliest Apr 20, 2002 · Latest May 5, 2008
Typical ice-in
Nov 29
Earliest Nov 18, 2008 · Latest Dec 1, 2001
Most recent ice-out
May 5
2008
7 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Rush Island Lake
Where is Rush Island Lake?
- Rush Island Lake is a lake in Itasca County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Rush Island Lake?
- Rush Island Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Rush Island Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 16, 2021 caught 0.75 northern pike per hour of electrofishing at Rush Island Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–33 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Rush Island Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Can I fish at Rush Island Lake?
- Rush Island 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 Rush Island Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest 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 readings
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Rainy Lake Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Rush Island Lake
Other 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)
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
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