Rush Lake
Pine County, MinnesotaLimited DataMesotrophic
Rush Lake comes in at a B on the grading rubric — a respectable showing for a Minnesota lake of its size and depth.
Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Rush Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. The lake bottoms out at 37 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. At 78 acres, Rush Lake sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Rush Lake ranks 5 of 19 in Pine County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.
No invasive species are currently listed at Rush Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery is bass-led, with 10 documented species across the lake's records. No formal public access is documented at Rush Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-10-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 12.8 ft. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.8 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 37 ft |
| Surface Area | 78.4 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 56% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Rush Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Rush Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Rush Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.193 m/yr | 5 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 19 lakes in Pine County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Rush Lake holds Grade B. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Pine County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Rush Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1996-07-01 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 21.21 | 0.16 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 14.72 | 0.44 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.31 | 1.25 lb |
| Black Crappie | 2.77 | 0.24 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 2.50 | 0.47 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 0.94 | 0.22 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
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
Black Crappie
From the 1996-07-01 survey
Rush Lake is a small (71.8 acre), clear, moderately soft water lake, with a maximum depth of 37 feet. It has had three surveys previous to this 1996 survey, 1949, 1967, and 1986. Survey catch rates of game fish species have been fairly typical for lakes of its type, except that yellow perch populations have…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Rush Lake. 2 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RushFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Rush (0363)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Rush 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 MN58-0067-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.61 km)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2023-10-15
Monitoring stations: 1