Smith Lake
St. Louis County, MinnesotaLimited DataOligotrophic
On the LakeGrade rubric, Smith Lake pulls an A: clarity at 15.0 ft and phosphorus readings still being added put it in the top bracket for Minnesota.
Trophically, Smith Lake reads as oligotrophic — nutrient-poor, clear, and ecologically more sensitive to disturbance than richer lakes. Smith Lake is unusually deep for Minnesota at 51 ft, which buffers the lake against summer warming and helps the deep water stay oxygenated. At 193 acres, Smith Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 5.0 miles of shoreline. Within St. Louis County's 187 graded waters, Smith Lake sits at rank 8, near the top of the local distribution.
Smith Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2024, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. Walleye are documented at Smith Lake, one of 12 fish species on record for the lake. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. 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 2024-09-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 15 ft down. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 51 ft |
| Surface Area | 193.22 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 38% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Smith Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Smith Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Smith Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.473 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (8 observations).
Estimated open water season: 211 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2005-04-15 (2005) | 2008-05-03 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2006-11-19 (2006) | 2015-11-27 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2020-04-29
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 187 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Smith Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2020-08-14 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 14.28 | 0.12 lb |
| Bluegill | 9.71 | 0.2 lb |
| Rock Bass | 5.39 | 0.39 lb |
| Walleye | 3.28 | 1.13 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.36 | 1.72 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 1.91 | 0.13 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
Bluegill
Rock Bass
Walleye
From the 2020-08-14 survey
Smith (Lower Pequaywan) Lake is a 193-acre lake with 74 (38%) littoral acres and a maximum depth of 51 feet. The lake is located about 14 miles northeast of Two Harbors, MN but there is no public access to the lake. Walleye is the primary management species and Northern Pike is the secondary management species. Smith…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Smith Lake. 2 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SmithFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Smith (0495)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Smith Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Smith Lake (completed 1939), built primarily for recreation on the Little Cloquet River; gravity-type dam, 9 ft tall and 42 ft long.
- Surface area
- 220 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,988 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,517 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 23.7 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00002 · Operator website
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2024-09-21
Monitoring stations: 2