Ten Mile

Ten Mile Lake is a 5,080-acre lake with 24.8 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 208 feet located north of Hackensack, MN. A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) owned public access is located on the western shore. The DNR has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical and other characteristics. Ten Mile Lake is in Lake Class 22; lakes in this class are generally clear, large, deep lakes with a low percentage of shallow water area and have very irregularly shaped shorelines with many bays or points. Other area lakes in this class include Little Boy, Steamboat, and Wabedo lakes. The lake is primarily managed for Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass and Walleye and secondarily for Bluegill, Black Crappie, Lake Whitefish, Tullibee (Cisco), and Yellow Perch. A standard survey was completed on Ten Mile Lake in 2024. Northern Pike abundance was comparable to previous surveys meeting the management goal (<10 fish per net). Sampled pike ranged in length from 10 to 33 inches with an average length of 18.5 inches. Walleye abundance was comparable to the 2021 survey, though catch rates show a declining trend since 2013 and fell below the management goal (six fish per net). Walleye ranged in length from 7 to 28.5 inches with an average length of 18.5 inches. Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass provide additional quality fishing opportunities to anglers. Largemouth Bass measuring up to 18 inches and Smallmouth Bass measuring 19 inches long were sampled. Additional sampling targeting these species is required to develop management goals. Yellow Perch populations persist at low abundance and generally consist of small fish. Lake Whitefish are present with fish up to 20 inches sampled. Bluegill abundance was below the management goal with fish up to 8 inches sampled, and moderate numbers of Black Crappie up to 13 inches were present in catch. Other fish species sampled include Bowfin (dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Currently the aquatic invasive species (AIS) that have been identified in Ten Mile Lake include Zebra Mussels, Chinese Mystery Snail and Purple Loosestrife. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Ten Mile Lake was conducted beginning on July 24, 2024, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 24 sampling stations. A 50-foot seine was used to sample 17 stations and a 15-foot seine was used at 3 stations. Sampling was difficult at 4 stations, which were not seined because site conditions prevented wading. Nearshore sampling captured 24 species of fish, including 12 species that are intolerant of disturbance (Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Least Darter, Logperch, Longnose Dace, Mimic Shiner, Mottled Sculpin, Pugnose Shiner, Rock Bass, and Smallmouth Bass). The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from a survey conducted by area fisheries staff in August of 2024 to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish and Common Carp). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Ten Mile Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score that exceeds the exceptional use threshold determined for similar lakes. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Leech Lake River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Ten Mile Lake was conducted on August 15-17, 2022, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at twenty-four sampling stations, but four stations were sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample sixteen stations, a 15-foot seine was used at four stations, and site conditions prevented the use of seines at four stations. Nearshore sampling captured twenty-four species of fish including eleven species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Least Darter, Longnose Dace, Mimic Shiner, Mottled Sculpin, Pugnose Shiner, Rock Bass, and Smallmouth Bass) and none that are tolerant of disturbance. The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from an August 2021 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Least Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Fathead Minnow and Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Results from this survey indicate that the fish community in Ten Mile Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score that exceeds the exceptional use threshold determined for similar lakes. These results contribute to long-term monitoring for Minnesota Sentinel Lakes and will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Leech Lake River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappie, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, and Rock Bass in Ten Mile. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Ten Mile. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Ten Mile has a maximum depth of 208 feet and a mean depth of 52.4 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Ten Mile is from 2024.

Yes — Ten Mile has confirmed zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.