Lower Hay Lake vs Ross Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Lower Hay Lake has a higher water quality grade (A, Excellent) than Ross Lake (C, Fair). Both are in Crow Wing County, Minnesota.
A
Lower Hay Lake
Crow Wing County, Minnesota
Crystal clear, you can see 19 ft down.
C
Ross Lake
Crow Wing County, Minnesota
Murky, only visible to about 3.5 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Lower Hay Lake | Ross Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | A (Excellent) | C (Fair) |
| Water Clarity | 19 ft | 3.5 ft |
| Phosphorus | 13 µg/L | 26 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 100 ft | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 700.21 acres | 491.76 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 21 | 13 |
| Trophic State | oligotrophic | eutrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Lower Hay Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade A versus Ross Lake's Grade C. Water clarity: 19 ft vs 3.5 ft. For fishing diversity, Lower Hay Lake also leads with 21 species.