---
type: lake
name: "Little Bowstring Lake"
county: "Itasca"
nearest_town: "Deer River"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 326
max_depth_ft: 33
latitude: 47.49295
longitude: -93.72695
lake_score: 55
dnr_lake_id: "31075800"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/itasca-county/little-bowstring-lake
---

# Little Bowstring Lake

Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota, near Deer River

- **Surface Area**: 326 acres
- **Max Depth**: 33 ft
- **Shoreline**: 3.2 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 6.5 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (gravel or earth)
- **Lake Score**: 55/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Little Bowstring Lake is a 326-acre lake near Deer River in Itasca County, Minnesota. It reaches 33 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 3.2 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 6.5 feet.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 15 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, and pumpkinseed. The DNR has stocking records for the lake, so check the stocking report for the most recent species and year classes. Special fishing regulations apply to sunfish, and they override the statewide limits. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2022.

There is one public boat launch (gravel or earth surface) managed by the county. Ice typically goes out around April 18, based on 17 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

- **Public access**: 1 public boat launch (gravel or earth)
- **Managed by**: county
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 15
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2022
- **Special regulations**: Yes
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

### Special Regulations

- **Sunfish**: Daily limit five.

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling

## Amenities

Boat Ramp

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Tullibee (Cisco), Rock Bass, Black Bullhead, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 18
- **Years of record**: 17
- **Earliest**: 2012-03-24
- **Latest**: 2013-05-13

## Nearby Lakes

- [Grave Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/itasca-county/grave-lake) - 2.7 miles, 525 acres
- [Dead Horse Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/itasca-county/dead-horse-lake) - 3.7 miles, 105 acres
- [Day Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/itasca-county/day-lake) - 3.9 miles, 49 acres
- [Island Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/itasca-county/island-lake-deer-river) - 4.2 miles, 285 acres
- [Cottonwood Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/itasca-county/cottonwood-lake) - 4.5 miles, 133 acres
- [Caribou Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/itasca-county/caribou-lake) - 4.7 miles, 247 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=47.49295,-93.72695)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=31075800)
- [All lakes in Itasca County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/itasca-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/itasca-county/little-bowstring-lake)*