Wolf Lake
Beltrami County, MinnesotaMesotrophic
Wolf Lake comes in at a B on the grading rubric — a respectable showing for a Minnesota lake of its size and depth. Secchi readings are the weakest of the scored parameters, suggesting suspended sediment or algal biomass dominates the optical signal.
A TSI near 46 places Wolf Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. At 57 ft of maximum depth, Wolf Lake stratifies reliably through the summer — the hypolimnion stays cooler and clearer than the surface layer suggests. Wolf Lake covers 1,076 acres alongside 8.0 miles of shoreline, large enough that conditions can vary meaningfully between bays. Wolf Lake sits at rank 53 of 92 in Beltrami County, in the lower half of the local distribution.
Wolf Lake is on the Minnesota infested-waters list for zebra mussels — boaters should follow clean-drain-dry protocols when moving gear to or from the lake. Wolf Lake's fishery is anchored by muskellunge, with 18 documented species in total — a destination water for muskie anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. Ice-out has been recorded 9 times at Wolf Lake, with a median around Apr 25. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Track Wolf Lake
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. Phosphorus level: 19 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | 19 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 57 ft |
| Surface Area | 1.1K acres |
| Shoreline Length | 8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 36% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Wolf Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Wolf Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Wolf Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.092 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (13 observations).
Estimated open water season: 220 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2021-04-05 (2021) | 2022-05-07 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2023-11-28 (2023) | 2021-12-07 (2021) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-25
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #53 of 92 lakes in Beltrami County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Wolf Lake holds Grade B. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- ACass Lake Allens BayBeltrami County · mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- AAndrusia LakeBeltrami County · mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- ASwenson LakeBeltrami County · mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- AMidge LakeHubbard County · mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- AGrace LakeBeltrami County · mi · Higher grade (B → A)
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Wolf Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Wolf Lake With Nearby Lakes
Beltrami County · Grade B
Beltrami County · Grade A
Hubbard County · Grade B
Cass County · Grade B
Hubbard County · Grade A
Beltrami County · Grade A
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-07 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 38.46 | 0.17 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 30.99 | — |
| BKF | 25.99 | — |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 7.11 | 1.08 lb |
| MMS | 6.79 | — |
| Walleye | 6.33 | 1.41 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
Tullibee (Cisco)
Walleye
From the 2025-08-07 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Wolf Lake, which is located partially within the Leech Lake Reservation, on August 7th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (oxythermal habitat) available to coldwater fish species such as Cisco,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Wolf Lake. 5 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WolfFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Wolf (1277)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Wolf (1724)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — WolfFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WolfPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Wolf 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 MN04-0079-00 · Official waterbody report
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2021-09-19
Monitoring stations: 2