Straight Lake
Becker County, Minnesota471 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Straight Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 63 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Straight Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 63 ft. Surface area: 471.44 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 11, 2025 caught 5.00 walleye per gill net at Straight Lake. DNR survey details →
Straight Lake is a 471-acre mesotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 63 feet (15-foot average). The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Straight Lake ranks #67 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-09. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Straight Lake covers about 470 acres in Becker County. The median ice-out date is April 15, which is when the open-water season begins. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Straight Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Straight Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing15 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 15
- Deep water63 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Straight Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Straight Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Straight Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Straight Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Phosphorus 14.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 9.4 µg/L. TSI 47.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 8ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 14.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 9.4µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 47 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Straight Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 11, 2025 caught 5.00 walleye per gill net at Straight Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Straight Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-11 (Standard Survey).
13 surveys on file · most recent 2025-08-11 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 19.89 | 5–6 in 2025-08-11 | 0.1 lb |
| Bluegill | 18.17 | 3–9 in 2025-08-11 | 0.14 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 10.76 | 4–20 in 2025-08-11 | 0.62 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.13 | 14–34 in 2025-08-11 | 1.94 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.63 | 3–7 in 2025-08-11 | 0.16 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
From the 2025-08-11 survey
Straight Lake (DOW # 03-0010-00) is located in Osage, in eastern Becker County. Straight lake has a surface area of 471 acres and a maximum depth of 63 feet. There is a state-owned public access located on the south shore of the lake off Hwy 34. Straight Lake provides fishing opportunities for Walleye, Northern pike,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Straight Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — StraightFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Straight (1225)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — StraightFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — StraightPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
63 ft
Average depth
15 ft
Surface area
471 acres
Shoreline
9.8 mi
Littoral zone
38%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
19 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,467 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Straight Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Straight 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 Straight Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Follow Straight Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Straight Lake
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 15
Earliest Mar 30, 2016 · Latest May 7, 2008
Typical ice-in
Nov 28
Earliest Nov 9, 2014 · Latest Dec 12, 2004
Most recent ice-out
Mar 30
2016
15 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Straight Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Straight Lake (completed 1942), built primarily for recreation on the Straight River; gravity-type dam, 20 ft tall and 300 ft long.
- Surface area
- 450 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,890 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,890 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 36 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR-EWR
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00820 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Straight Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN03-0010-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Straight Lake
Where is Straight Lake?
- Straight Lake is a lake in Becker County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Straight Lake?
- Straight Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 63 ft. Surface area: 471.44 acres.
Is Straight Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Straight Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Straight Lake?
- Straight Lake has a maximum depth of 63 feet and an average depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 471.44 acres.
What fish are in Straight Lake?
- Fish species found in Straight Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Straight Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Straight Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 11, 2025 caught 5.00 walleye per gill net at Straight Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Straight Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Straight Lake thaw?
- Straight Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 15. Ice typically forms around Nov 28. The open water season is approximately 227 days.
Can I fish at Straight Lake?
- Public access to Straight Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Straight Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Becker County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Detroit Lakes Area area
Top lakes and where to stay in the Park Rapids Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Red River of the North Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Straight Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Straight Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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