Smith Lake
Smith Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 43.24 acres.
- Clarity
- 11 ft
- Typical in August
- 70°F
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 43 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Smith 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 Smith 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.
Smith Lake is a 43-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-08-29. 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 Smith Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Smith Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Smith 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 Smith Lake
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Water Temperature
Smith Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Aug (about 70°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2023–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Smith Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 43 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 83% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Smith LakePublic
- Highway 17 BridgePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Smith Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2011-06-27 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 17.61 | 0.19 lb |
| Northern Pike | 8.04 | 1.18 lb |
| Black Crappie | 3.88 | 0.08 lb |
| Bluegill | 3.50 | 0.22 lb |
| Rock Bass | 1.96 | 0.27 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.50 | 2.66 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.
Yellow Perch
Northern Pike
Bluegill
White Sucker
From the 2011-06-27 survey
Smith Lake is a 43 acre lake located 9 miles south of Grand Rapids, MN on the west side of Hwy 169. Inlets to Smith Lake include Smith Creek in the southwest corner and an unnamed, intermittent stream in the southeast corner. The outlet is located in the northwest. Smith Lake has a maximum depth of 25 ft and moderate…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Smith Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SmithFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Smith (0780)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SmithPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.009 m/yr | 6 |
Graded lakes near Smith Lake
Smith Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Smith Lake
What is the water quality grade for Smith Lake?
- Smith Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 43.24 acres.
Is Smith Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Smith 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 Smith Lake?
- Smith Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August, from 12 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Smith Lake?
- Smith Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 43.24 acres.
What fish are in Smith Lake?
- Fish species found in Smith Lake include bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Smith Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Smith Lake?
- Smith Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Smith Lake, Highway 17 Bridge. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
31 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA31 samples · 2020–2025
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