Wilkins Lake
Wilkins Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 39 ft. Surface area: 348.86 acres.
- Clarity
- 13 ft
- Typical in August
- 66°F
- Max depth
- 39 ft
- Area
- 349 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 17
Next lake in Aitkin County
Why Wilkins 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 Wilkins 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.
Wilkins Lake is a 349-acre lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 39 feet (20-foot average). The lake supports 14 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-18. 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 Wilkins Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Wilkins Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Wilkins 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.
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Water Temperature
Wilkins Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 64°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 66°F) and coldest in Apr (about 45°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 119 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Wilkins Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Wilkins Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was low (9,290 cells/mL) on April 25, 2026.
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 | 39 ft |
| Average Depth | 20 ft |
| Surface Area | 349 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 30% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Wilkins LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Wilkins Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-29 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 63.10 | — |
| Bluegill | 32.66 | 0.2 lb |
| BNS | 15.88 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 7.50 | 0.77 lb |
| MMS | 6.91 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 5.44 | 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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
From the 2024-07-29 survey
Wilkins Lake is moderately sized (372 acres) with clear water and is located in central Aitkin County. There is a township-owned public access with a concrete log ramp without a dock, located on the east side of the lake. The surrounding area is a mixture of forest-covered rolling hills with various wetland types…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Wilkins Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WilkinsFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Wilkins (0086)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — WilkinsFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WilkinsPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.07 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (26 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-03-27 (2000) | 2013-05-12 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2014-11-21 (2014) | 2015-12-23 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2015-04-11
EPA Impairment Status
Wilkins 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 MN01-0105-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.01 km)
Nearby Lakes in Aitkin County
Frequently asked questions about Wilkins Lake
What is the water quality grade for Wilkins Lake?
- Wilkins Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 39 ft. Surface area: 348.86 acres.
Is Wilkins Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Wilkins 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 Wilkins Lake?
- Wilkins Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August, from 119 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Wilkins Lake?
- Wilkins Lake has a maximum depth of 39 feet and an average depth of 20 feet. The lake covers 348.86 acres.
What fish are in Wilkins Lake?
- Fish species found in Wilkins Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Wilkins Lake is located in Aitkin County, Minnesota.
When does Wilkins Lake thaw?
- Wilkins Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 17.
Does Wilkins Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Wilkins Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was low (9,290 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Wilkins Lake?
- Wilkins Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Wilkins Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Wilkins Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
79 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
MNPCA79 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
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