Vanduse Lake
Vanduse Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 239.51 acres.
- Clarity
- 11 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 27 ft
- Area
- 240 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 20
- Open water
- 213 days
Next lake in Aitkin County
Why Vanduse 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 Vanduse 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.
Vanduse Lake is a 240-acre lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 27 feet (8-foot average). Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-01. 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 Vanduse 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 Vanduse Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Vanduse Lake in Aitkin 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 Vanduse Lake
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Water Temperature
Vanduse Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Oct (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 30 field readings (2022–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Vanduse Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 27 ft |
| Average Depth | 8.2 ft |
| Surface Area | 240 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 79% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Hay LakePublic
- Vanduse LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Vanduse Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-06-10 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 26.45 | 0.27 lb |
| Northern Pike | 8.21 | 1.5 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 6.49 | 0.46 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 5.50 | 1.25 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 5.01 | 0.17 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.04 | 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.
Bluegill
Northern Pike
Yellow Bass
Largemouth Bass
From the 2024-06-10 survey
Vanduse Lake is 230 acres (189 Littoral acres) with a maximum depth of 27 feet. Vanduse is located about 2 miles south of Jacobson in northeastern Aitkin County. There is a public access with a gravel ramp on the west side of the lake. A standard survey (12 trap nets and 6 gill nets) was conducted on Vanduse Lake…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Vanduse Lake. 5 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — VanduseFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Vanduse (0088)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Vanduse (2028)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — VanduseFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — VandusePublic 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 | +0.135 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (35 observations).
Estimated open water season: 213 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-23 (2012) | 2013-05-09 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2004-11-05 (2004) | 2016-12-08 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-12
Graded lakes near Vanduse Lake
Vanduse Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Aitkin County
Frequently asked questions about Vanduse Lake
What is the water quality grade for Vanduse Lake?
- Vanduse Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 239.51 acres.
Is Vanduse Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Vanduse 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 Vanduse Lake?
- Vanduse Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 30 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Vanduse Lake?
- Vanduse Lake has a maximum depth of 27 feet and an average depth of 8.2 feet. The lake covers 239.51 acres.
What fish are in Vanduse Lake?
- Fish species found in Vanduse Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Vanduse Lake is located in Aitkin County, Minnesota.
When does Vanduse Lake thaw?
- Vanduse Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 20. Ice typically forms around Nov 19. The open water season is approximately 213 days.
Are there boat ramps on Vanduse Lake?
- Vanduse Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Hay Lake, Vanduse Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Vanduse Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
48 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA48 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
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