South Lindstrom Lake
South Lindstrom Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 5.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 454.68 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 34 ft
- Area
- 455 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 15
Next lake in Chisago County
South Lindstrom Lake is a 455-acre mesotrophic lake in Chisago County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 34 feet (17-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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. Compared to the 29 other monitored lakes in Chisago County, South Lindstrom Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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)
Murky, only visible to about 5.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 16 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near South Lindstrom Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near South Lindstrom Lake in Chisago 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.
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Water Temperature
South Lindstrom Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in May (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 46 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full South Lindstrom Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 34 ft |
| Average Depth | 17.3 ft |
| Surface Area | 455 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 46% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing South Lindstrom Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-18 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 40.08 | 0.92 lb |
| Bluegill | 33.51 | 0.15 lb |
| Black Crappie | 13.18 | 0.19 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.27 | 0.13 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.86 | 0.2 lb |
| Walleye | 4.29 | 2.01 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
From the 2022-07-18 survey
South Lindstrom Lake is a moderately fertile 499-acre lake located in southern Chisago County bordering the city of Lindstrom. The lake is broadly connected to Chisago Lake by a natural channel. The connection between the two lakes facilitates fish movement and the two lakes are considered one for management purposes.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for South Lindstrom Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — South LindstromFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — South LindstromFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — South LindstromPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.113 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.31 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.89 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (6 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-04 (2024) | 2022-04-20 (2022) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-04-01
EPA Impairment Status
South Lindstrom Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN13-0028-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 30 lakes in Chisago County
Nearby Lakes in Chisago County
Frequently asked questions about South Lindstrom Lake
What is the water quality grade for South Lindstrom Lake?
- South Lindstrom Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 5.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 454.68 acres.
Is South Lindstrom Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. South Lindstrom Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of South Lindstrom Lake?
- South Lindstrom Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 46 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is South Lindstrom Lake?
- South Lindstrom Lake has a maximum depth of 34 feet and an average depth of 17.3 feet. The lake covers 454.68 acres.
What fish are in South Lindstrom Lake?
- Fish species found in South Lindstrom Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. South Lindstrom Lake is located in Chisago County, Minnesota.
When does South Lindstrom Lake thaw?
- South Lindstrom Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 15.
Explore South Lindstrom Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Chisago County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Chisago County · Grade C
Chisago County · Grade F
Chisago County · Grade D
Chisago County · Grade C
Chisago County · Grade A
Chisago County · Grade D
Where this data comes from
91 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
MNPCA91 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate