Crooked Lake
Crooked Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 284.21 acres.
- Clarity
- 14 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Max depth
- 35 ft
- Area
- 284 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Douglas County
Crooked Lake is a 284-acre mesotrophic lake in Douglas County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 35 feet (11-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 4 public boat landings. Compared to the 36 other monitored lakes in Douglas County, Crooked Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. 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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft. Phosphorus level: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Crooked Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Crooked Lake in Douglas 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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Water Temperature
Crooked Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 11 field readings (2011–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Crooked Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 35 ft |
| Average Depth | 11 ft |
| Surface Area | 284 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 34% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Gilbert LakePublic
- Crooked LakePublic
- Round LakePublic
- Lobster LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Crooked 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
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-06 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 219.81 | — |
| JND | 22.72 | — |
| Bluegill | 20.29 | 0.18 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 15.89 | 0.97 lb |
| Black Crappie | 7.31 | 0.33 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.68 | 1.56 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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Black Crappie
Northern Pike
From the 2022-07-06 survey
This nearshore survey was conducted during summer 2022 to assess populations of non-game species and small game fish using backpack electrofishing and seining. Backpack electrofishing and/or seining were conducted at 10 stations, representing a variety of habitat types, along the shoreline of Crooked Lake. The survey…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Crooked Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CrookedFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Crooked (0928)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CrookedPublic 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 | -0.027 m/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Crooked 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 MN21-0199-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.37 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 37 lakes in Douglas County
Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Crooked Lake
What is the water quality grade for Crooked Lake?
- Crooked Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 284.21 acres.
Is Crooked Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Crooked Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Crooked Lake?
- Crooked Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 11 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Crooked Lake?
- Crooked Lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet and an average depth of 11 feet. The lake covers 284.21 acres.
What fish are in Crooked Lake?
- Fish species found in Crooked Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead. Crooked Lake is located in Douglas County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Crooked Lake?
- Crooked Lake has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Gilbert Lake, Crooked Lake, Round Lake, Lobster Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Crooked Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Douglas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Crooked Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
62 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA62 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory