Shumway Lake
Shumway Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 74.18 acres.
- Clarity
- 5 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 23 ft
- Area
- 74 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Aitkin County
Why Shumway 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 Shumway Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. 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.
Shumway Lake is a 74-acre lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 23 feet. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
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
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Shumway Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Shumway Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Shumway Lake in Aitkin 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 Shumway Lake
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Water Temperature
Shumway Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 67°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 72°F) and coldest in May (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 20 field readings (2016–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Shumway Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 23 ft |
| Surface Area | 74 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 38% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Shumway LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Shumway Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-28 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Brown Bullhead | 54.38 | 0.89 lb |
| Bluegill | 29.08 | 0.31 lb |
| Black Crappie | 15.61 | 0.27 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 9.15 | 0.92 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 8.11 | 0.08 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.36 | 2.97 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.
Brown Bullhead
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Largemouth Bass
From the 2025-07-28 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Shumway Lake was conducted on July 28, 2025, by Aitkin area fisheries staff. Sampling sites (N=10) 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. Backpack electrofishing was…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Shumway Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ShumwayFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Shumway (0084)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ShumwayPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Graded lakes near Shumway Lake
Shumway Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Aitkin County
Frequently asked questions about Shumway Lake
What is the water quality grade for Shumway Lake?
- Shumway Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 74.18 acres.
Is Shumway Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Shumway Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Shumway Lake?
- Shumway Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 20 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Shumway Lake?
- Shumway Lake has a maximum depth of 23 feet. The lake covers 74.18 acres.
What fish are in Shumway Lake?
- Fish species found in Shumway Lake include black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow perch. Shumway Lake is located in Aitkin County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Shumway Lake?
- Shumway Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Shumway Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
5 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA5 samples · 2023
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