Tin Can Mike Lake
Lake County, MinnesotaLimited DataMesotrophic
Tin Can Mike Lake comes in at a B on the grading rubric — a respectable showing for a Minnesota lake of its size and depth.
A TSI near 43 places Tin Can Mike Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. Tin Can Mike Lake reaches 29 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 145 acres, Tin Can Mike Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 3.4 miles of shoreline. Tin Can Mike Lake ranks 48 of 142 in Lake County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.
Tin Can Mike 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 Tin Can Mike Lake, one of 6 fish species on record for the lake. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-06-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft |
| Surface Area | 145.05 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 64% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Tin Can Mike Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Tin Can Mike Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Tin Can Mike 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 | -0.27 m/yr | 5 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #48 of 142 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Tin Can Mike Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2016-08-15 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 14.29 | 0.17 lb |
| Northern Pike | 11.29 | 1.75 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.00 | 0.13 lb |
| Walleye | 2.42 | 1.92 lb |
| Rock Bass | 2.00 | 0.14 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 0.75 | 2.08 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.
Bluegill
Northern Pike
Yellow Perch
Walleye
From the 2016-08-15 survey
Tin Can Mike Lake is located within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) within the Superior National Forest and is a non-motorized lake. It is approximately 11 miles northeast of Ely. There are two portage accesses to the lake consisting of a 130 rod portage from Sandpit Lake and a 90 rod portage from…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Tin Can Mike Lake. 1 report on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Tin Can MikeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Tin Can Mike 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 MN38-0786-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.06 km)
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
Most recent sample: 2024-06-20
Monitoring stations: 7