Shell Lake
Shell Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 7.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 3147.31 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.3 ft
- Max depth
- 16 ft
- Area
- 3,147 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 24
- Open water
- 209 days
Next lake in Becker County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Shell Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 15 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Shell Lake is a 3,147-acre mesotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 16 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Shell Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 7.3 ft. Phosphorus level: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Shell Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Shell Lake in Becker 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 Shell Lake
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Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Shell Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (210,863 cells/mL) on January 11, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 16 ft |
| Surface Area | 3,147 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 10.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 98% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Shell LakePublic
- Shell Lake Resort & CampgroundSemi-private
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Shell Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-05-10 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 51.10 | 0.19 lb |
| BLH | 25.00 | — |
| SUN | 23.98 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 14.67 | — |
| GOS | 11.54 | — |
| Brown Bullhead | 11.07 | 0.34 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.
Black Bullhead
Brown Bullhead
From the 2023-05-10 survey
Shell Lake is a 3,140-acre lake located in east central Becker County. Extensive stands of wild rice are found in shoal waters throughout much of the lake, and waterfowl hunting is an important recreational use of the lake. Because much of the lake is shallow, Shell Lake is subject to occasional winterkills. A couple…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Shell Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ShellFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Shell (1206)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ShellFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ShellPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.61 m/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (18 observations).
Estimated open water season: 209 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2021-03-30 (2021) | 2013-05-09 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-06 (2017) | 2023-12-25 (2023) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-04-02
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Shell Lake
What is the water quality grade for Shell Lake?
- Shell Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 7.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 3147.31 acres.
Is Shell Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Shell Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Shell Lake?
- Shell Lake has a maximum depth of 16 feet. The lake covers 3147.31 acres.
What fish are in Shell Lake?
- Fish species found in Shell Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Shell Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
When does Shell Lake thaw?
- Shell Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 24. Ice typically forms around Nov 19. The open water season is approximately 209 days.
Does Shell Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Shell Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (210,863 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Shell Lake?
- Shell Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Shell Lake, Shell Lake Resort & Campground. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Shell 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 Becker County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Top lakes and where to stay in the Park Rapids Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Red River of the North 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 Shell Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Shell Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
21 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA21 samples · 2020–2021
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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