This report describes the relationship between microbial enzymatic activities (aminopeptidase, esterase, and alkaline phosphatase) and the trophic state index of the studied lakes. Pelagic surface water samples were collected from nineteen lakes (Mazurian Lake District, northeastern Poland), characterized by different degrees of eutrophication, during spring homothermy and summer thermal stratification periods in 1999 and 2000. Aminopeptidase and esterase activities of microbial assemblages in unfiltered water samples were positively proportional to the trophic conditions of the studied lakes and both enzymes significantly correlated with Carlson's trophic state index of lakes. No correlation between alkaline phosphatase activities and the trophic state index of the studied lakes was found. This study showed that the selected parameters of microbial activity are very useful for the rapid determination of actual trophic conditions in lake ecosystems.