Trout Lake
Trout Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 16 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 135 ft. Surface area: 1862.07 acres.
- Clarity
- 16 ft
- Typical in August
- 61°F
- Max depth
- 135 ft
- Area
- 1,862 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 24
- Open water
- 223 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Trout Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 130 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Why Trout 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 Trout 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.
Trout Lake is a 1,862-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 135 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-28. 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 Trout Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 16 ft down. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Trout Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Trout Lake in Itasca 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 Trout Lake
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Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Trout Lake → · more Minnesota lake trips
Water Temperature
Trout Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 67°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in Aug (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 62 field readings (2023–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Trout Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Trout Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (89,536 cells/mL) on November 29, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 135 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,862 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 13.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 24% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Longyear ParkPublic
- Trout Lake (North)Public
- Kom-on-in BeachPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Trout Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
17 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-11 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 32.53 | 0.13 lb |
| MTS | 24.75 | 0.01 lb |
| Rock Bass | 5.94 | 0.37 lb |
| Walleye | 4.47 | 2.03 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 4.11 | 1.29 lb |
| Bluegill | 3.92 | 0.22 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
MTS
Rock Bass
Walleye
From the 2025-08-11 survey
Trout Lake is a 1,890-acre lake located just south of Coleraine, MN. There are three public accesses on Trout Lake. The 2019 lake management plan lists Walleye and Northern Pike as the primary species of management with Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass as secondary species. In 2005, a 17 to 26 inch protected slot…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Trout Lake. 5 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — TroutFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Trout (0574)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Trout (0593)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — TroutFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — TroutPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.333 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (29 observations).
Estimated open water season: 223 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2006-04-12 (2006) | 1996-05-11 (1996) |
| Ice-In | 2014-11-26 (2014) | 2001-12-20 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2020-04-26
EPA Impairment Status
Trout Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN31-0216-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Trout Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Coleraine-Bovey-Taconite Joint WwtpBovey · 1.6 mi away · NPDES MN0053341Recent violation
- Umd - Nrri Coleraine LabsColeraine · 2.2 mi away · NPDES MN0051802Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Trout Lake
What is the water quality grade for Trout Lake?
- Trout Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 16 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 135 ft. Surface area: 1862.07 acres.
Is Trout Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Trout Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Trout Lake?
- Trout Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in August, from 62 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Trout Lake?
- Trout Lake has a maximum depth of 135 feet. The lake covers 1862.07 acres.
What fish are in Trout Lake?
- Fish species found in Trout Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Trout Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does Trout Lake thaw?
- Trout Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 24. Ice typically forms around Dec 3. The open water season is approximately 223 days.
Does Trout Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Trout Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (89,536 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Trout Lake?
- Trout Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Longyear Park, Trout Lake (North), Kom-on-in Beach. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Trout Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
87 measurements from 3 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
MNPCA87 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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