Straight Lake
Straight Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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.
- Clarity
- 8 ft
- Max depth
- 63 ft
- Area
- 471 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 15
- Open water
- 227 days
Next lake in Becker County
Straight Lake is a 471-acre mesotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 63 feet (15-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2021. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Phosphorus level: 14.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 63 ft |
| Average Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 471 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 9.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 38% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Straight LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Straight Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2020-08-24 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 21.10 | 0.1 lb |
| Bluegill | 18.03 | 0.14 lb |
| MTS | 13.75 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 10.33 | 0.62 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.17 | 1.85 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.89 | 0.16 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
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
From the 2020-08-24 survey
Straight Lake is located in Osage, in eastern Becker County. Straight has a surface area of 471 acres and a maximum depth of 63 feet. A state-owned public access is located on the south shore of the lake. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based…
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
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (15 observations).
Estimated open water season: 227 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-30 (2016) | 2008-05-07 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2014-11-09 (2014) | 2004-12-12 (2004) |
Most recent ice-out: 2016-03-30
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
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN03-0010-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #67 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Straight Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Straight Lake
What is the water quality grade for Straight Lake?
- Straight Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Straight Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 9.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
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.
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.
Are there boat ramps on Straight Lake?
- Straight Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Straight Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Straight Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Becker County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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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)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate