Lower Hay Lake vs West Fox Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Lower Hay Lake and West Fox Lake both received the same overall water quality grade of A (Excellent). Both are in Crow Wing County, Minnesota.
A
Lower Hay Lake
Crow Wing County, Minnesota
Crystal clear, you can see 19 ft down.
A
West Fox Lake
Crow Wing County, Minnesota
Crystal clear, you can see 15 ft down.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Lower Hay Lake | West Fox Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | A (Excellent) | A (Excellent) |
| Water Clarity | 19 ft | 15 ft |
| Phosphorus | 13 µg/L | 12 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 100 ft | 55 ft |
| Surface Area | 700.21 acres | 449.42 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | No |
| Fish Species | 21 | 15 |
| Trophic State | oligotrophic | oligotrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Both lakes earn the same Grade A. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Lower Hay Lake: 19 ft, West Fox Lake: 15 ft) and what you want from the lake. Lower Hay Lake supports more documented fish species.