Big Kandiyohi Lake
Big Kandiyohi Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 143.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 2729.83 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.2 ft
- Max depth
- 18 ft
- Area
- 2,730 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 25
Next lake in Kandiyohi County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Big Kandiyohi Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 15 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Big Kandiyohi Lake is a 2,730-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 18 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 24 other monitored lakes in Kandiyohi County, Big Kandiyohi Lake ranks #14 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-25. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 5.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 143.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 143.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Big Kandiyohi Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Big Kandiyohi Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 18 ft |
| Surface Area | 2,730 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 14.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 53% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Kandiyohi County Park No. 2 (East)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Big Kandiyohi Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
23 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-09-11 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 43.07 | 0.96 lb |
| JND | 32.23 | — |
| Bluegill | 26.19 | 0.39 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 20.43 | 0.58 lb |
| Fathead Minnow | 11.12 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 8.91 | 0.32 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Walleye
Bluegill
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
From the 2024-09-11 survey
A targeted fall night electrofishing survey of young of year "YOY" (fingerling sized) Walleye was conducted on Big Kandiyohi Lake during September 11, 2024. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e., spawning season, fall season, etc.) unlike a standard survey which…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Big Kandiyohi Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Big KandiyohiFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Big KandiyohiFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Big KandiyohiPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.155 m/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (6 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2007-03-28 (2007) | 2013-05-02 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2008-11-22 (2008) | 2007-11-26 (2007) |
Most recent ice-out: 2018-04-29
EPA Impairment Status
Big Kandiyohi Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN34-0086-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Big Kandiyohi Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Lake LillianLake Lillian · 4.6 mi away · NPDES MN0021954
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #14 of 25 lakes in Kandiyohi County
Nearby Lakes in Kandiyohi County
Frequently asked questions about Big Kandiyohi Lake
What is the water quality grade for Big Kandiyohi Lake?
- Big Kandiyohi Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 143.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 2729.83 acres.
Is Big Kandiyohi Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Big Kandiyohi Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Big Kandiyohi Lake?
- Big Kandiyohi Lake has a maximum depth of 18 feet. The lake covers 2729.83 acres.
What fish are in Big Kandiyohi Lake?
- Fish species found in Big Kandiyohi Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, orangespotted sunfish, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Big Kandiyohi Lake is located in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.
When does Big Kandiyohi Lake thaw?
- Big Kandiyohi Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 25.
Are there boat ramps on Big Kandiyohi Lake?
- Big Kandiyohi Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Kandiyohi County Park No. 2 (East). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Big Kandiyohi Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Kandiyohi County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
36 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA36 samples · 2021–2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate