Tin Can Mike Lake
Tin Can Mike Lake in Lake County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 145.05 acres.
- Clarity
- 11 ft
- Max depth
- 29 ft
- Area
- 145 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Lake County
Why Tin Can Mike Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Tin Can Mike Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Tin Can Mike Lake is a 145-acre lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 29 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including bluegill, largemouth bass, and northern pike. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-05-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Tin Can Mike Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Tin Can Mike Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Tin Can Mike Lake in Lake 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 Tin Can Mike Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft |
| Surface Area | 145 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 64% |
| Public Access | No |
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 Tin Can Mike Lake
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.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Tin Can MikeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.325 m/yr | 6 |
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)
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Tin Can Mike Lake
What is the water quality grade for Tin Can Mike Lake?
- Tin Can Mike Lake in Lake County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 145.05 acres.
Is Tin Can Mike Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Tin Can Mike Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Tin Can Mike Lake?
- Tin Can Mike Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet. The lake covers 145.05 acres.
What fish are in Tin Can Mike Lake?
- Fish species found in Tin Can Mike Lake include bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, rock bass, walleye, yellow perch. Tin Can Mike Lake is located in Lake County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
30 measurements from 7 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA30 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (7)
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