Crooked Lake
Crooked Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 4 ft. Surface area: 59.98 acres.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 4 ft
- Area
- 60 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Lake County
Crooked Lake is a 60-acre mesotrophic lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 4 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Crooked Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Crooked Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Crooked Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Crooked Lake in Lake 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 Crooked Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Crooked Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 71°F) and coldest in Nov (about 46°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 76 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Crooked Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 4 ft |
| Surface Area | 60 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Crooked LakePublic
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
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1983-07-14 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| White Sucker | 23.10 | 0.45 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 4.25 | 0.14 lb |
| Walleye | 3.30 | 2.8 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 0.50 | 0.5 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1983-07-14 survey
White Sucker population levels are high., The catch in both gill and trap nets being about two times the area average. Yellow Perch catch in gill nets was only 1/3 the area average, but quarter inch mesh trap nets indicate high reproduction. Walleye catch in gill nets was 75% of the area average, and fish were in good…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Crooked Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ArtlipFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -1.954 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.9 µg/L/yr | 2 |
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 MN38-0024-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.39 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 35 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Crooked Lake
What is the water quality grade for Crooked Lake?
- Crooked Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 4 ft. Surface area: 59.98 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 4.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Crooked Lake?
- Crooked Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 76 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Crooked Lake?
- Crooked Lake has a maximum depth of 4 feet. The lake covers 59.98 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Crooked Lake?
- Crooked Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Crooked Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Crooked Lake across LakeGrade
10.1 mi away
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Lake County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Crooked Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
44 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA42 samples · 2024–2025 - Eastern Regional Office
USFSEASTERN2 samples · 2021–2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 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