Sturgeon Lake
Pine County, MinnesotaLimited DataOligotrophic
Sturgeon Lake earns an A — water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate among the best monitored waters in Pine County. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.
The lake's low TSI puts it in oligotrophic territory — the cleanest of the four trophic classes, but also the most vulnerable to nutrient-driven shifts. A maximum depth of 40 ft puts Sturgeon Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. Sturgeon Lake covers 1,706 acres alongside 9.6 miles of shoreline, large enough that conditions can vary meaningfully between bays. Among the 20 graded lakes in Pine County, Sturgeon Lake ranks 2 — in the top quartile locally.
Eurasian watermilfoil has been documented at Sturgeon Lake, requiring shoreline management to keep dense mats from crowding native vegetation. Walleye are documented at Sturgeon Lake, one of 15 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Sturgeon Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The lake has a partial ice record — 5 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 25. 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 2021-07-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Sturgeon Lake water quality
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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 16.8 ft down. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16.8 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 40 ft |
| Average Depth | 22 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,706 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 9.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 29% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
→ Best fishing times for Sturgeon Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Sturgeon Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Sturgeon Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.176 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (7 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2003-04-15 (2003) | 2013-05-12 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-20 (2018) | 2018-11-20 (2018) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-05-05
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Sturgeon Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 40 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 20 lakes in Pine County
Nearby Lakes in Pine County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Sturgeon Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Sturgeon Lake With Nearby Lakes
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-10 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Spottail Shiner | 86.90 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 43.84 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 18.51 | 1.22 lb |
| Bluegill | 16.40 | 0.17 lb |
| SFS | 6.92 | — |
| CNM | 6.82 | — |
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
From the 2025-07-10 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Sturgeon Lake was conducted on July 10-16, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Sturgeon Lake. 4 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SturgeonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Sturgeon (0358)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SturgeonFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SturgeonPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Sturgeon 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 MN58-0067-00 · Official waterbody report
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2021-07-17
Monitoring stations: 1
Where to stay near Sturgeon Lake
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