Cub Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Kalkaska County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, and Largemouth bass. Compared to the 23 other monitored lakes in Kalkaska County, Cub Lake ranks #14 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 19.5 ft down. Trophic State Index: 34.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 19.5 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 34 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Cub Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +7.875 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.2 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #14 of 24 lakes in Kalkaska County
Nearby Lakes in Kalkaska County
Explore Cub Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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More records, surveys & data sources
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Cub Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Flowing Well Trout FarmKalkaska · 3.1 mi away · NPDES MI0036692
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.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2022-09-09
Monitoring stations: 1