Chub Lake
Chub Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13.7 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 313.42 acres.
- Clarity
- 13.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 28 ft
- Area
- 313 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 20
- Open water
- 220 days
Next lake in Carlton County
Why Chub Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Chub Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Chub Lake is a 313-acre lake in Carlton County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 28 feet (15-foot average). The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-08-25. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Chub Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 13.7 ft. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Chub Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Chub Lake in Carlton 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Chub Lake
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Water Temperature
Chub Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 72°F) and coldest in May (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 10 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Chub Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 28 ft |
| Average Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 313 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 54% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Chub LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Chub Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2020-08-31 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 38.62 | 1.08 lb |
| Bluegill | 7.43 | 0.12 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.56 | 2.03 lb |
| Walleye | 5.30 | 3.15 lb |
| Black Crappie | 3.99 | 0.22 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.95 | 0.14 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Northern Pike
Walleye
From the 2020-08-31 survey
Chub Lake is a 313-acre lake located near Carlton, Minnesota with 54% (169 acres) littoral area and a maximum depth of 28 feet. A county owned, concrete back-in access is located on the north end of the lake, near Chub Lake Park. Walleye and Largemouth Bass are the primary management species and Black Crappie is the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Chub Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ChubFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Chub (0260)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ChubFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ChubPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.033 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (23 observations).
Estimated open water season: 220 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-12 (2024) | 2014-05-09 (2014) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-10 (2017) | 2015-12-27 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-12
EPA Impairment Status
Chub 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 MN09-0008-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Chub Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Northern Natural Gas CoCarlton · 2.4 mi away · NPDES MN0050041
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.
Graded lakes near Chub Lake
Chub Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Carlton County
Frequently asked questions about Chub Lake
What is the water quality grade for Chub Lake?
- Chub Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13.7 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 313.42 acres.
Is Chub Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Chub Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Chub Lake?
- Chub Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 10 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Chub Lake?
- Chub Lake has a maximum depth of 28 feet and an average depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 313.42 acres.
What fish are in Chub Lake?
- Fish species found in Chub Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Chub Lake is located in Carlton County, Minnesota.
When does Chub Lake thaw?
- Chub Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 20. Ice typically forms around Nov 26. The open water season is approximately 220 days.
Are there boat ramps on Chub Lake?
- Chub Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Chub Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Chub Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Where this data comes from
42 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA42 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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