Detroit Lake
Becker County, Minnesota3,067 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Detroit Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 89 ft max depth
- Public access
Detroit Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 89 ft. Surface area: 3067.11 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on April 23, 2025 caught 2.16 muskellunge per trap net at Detroit Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 20–50 inches. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of Detroit Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 80 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Detroit Lake is a 3,067-acre mesotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 89 feet (15-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 19 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Detroit Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-17. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Detroit Lake covers about 3,100 acres in Becker County. It has 3 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. The median ice-out date is April 21, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Detroit Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Detroit Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water14 ft of visibility
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Fishing19 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 21
- Deep water89 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water3,067 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Detroit Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Detroit Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Detroit Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Detroit Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft. Phosphorus 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.3 µg/L. TSI 42.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 14ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 17µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 3.3µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 42 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Detroit Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Detroit Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (97,275 cells/mL) on April 19, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on April 23, 2025 caught 2.16 muskellunge per trap net at Detroit Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 20–50 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Detroit Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
21 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-04-23 (Targeted Survey).
21 surveys on file · most recent 2025-04-23 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muskellunge | 2057.65 | 20–50 in 2025-04-23 | 13.37 lb |
| Bluegill | 36.21 | 3–8 in 2023-08-07 | 0.15 lb |
| Yellow Bullhead | 9.60 | 5–14 in 2023-08-07 | 0.57 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 7.13 | ||
| Black Crappie | 6.24 | 6–12 in 2023-08-07 | 0.42 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 6.09 | 3–10 in 2023-08-07 | 0.18 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Muskellunge
Bluegill
Yellow Bullhead
Black Crappie
From the 2025-04-23 survey
This assessment was conducted using large-frame trap nets set in spring to examine the sizes of mature Muskellunge in Detroit Lake. Muskellunge were first introduced into the lake in 1989, with directed Muskellunge surveys beginning on Detroit Lake in 1993. Sixteen surveys had been conducted prior to 2025. This…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Detroit Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — DetroitFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Detroit (1186)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — DetroitFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — DetroitPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
89 ft
Average depth
14.8 ft
Surface area
3,067 acres
Shoreline
12.9 mi
Littoral zone
62%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Recreation & Access
- Detroit Lake (Northwest)Public
- Detroit Lake (Northcentral)Public
- Detroit Lake (Northeast)Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Detroit Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Detroit Lake in Becker 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 Detroit Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 trip? Cabins and lodging at Detroit Lake → · more Minnesota lake trips
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Detroit 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.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Stable+0.19 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+0.11 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 21
Earliest Mar 23, 1910 · Latest May 17, 1950
Typical ice-in
Nov 24
Earliest Oct 25, 1919 · Latest Dec 16, 1999
Most recent ice-out
Apr 12
2025
401 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Detroit Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN03-0381-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Detroit Lake
Where is Detroit Lake?
- Detroit Lake is a lake in Becker County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Detroit Lake?
- Detroit Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 89 ft. Surface area: 3067.11 acres.
Is Detroit Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Detroit Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Detroit Lake?
- Detroit Lake has a maximum depth of 89 feet and an average depth of 14.8 feet. The lake covers 3067.11 acres.
What fish are in Detroit Lake?
- Fish species found in Detroit Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, lake sturgeon, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Detroit Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Detroit Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on April 23, 2025 caught 2.16 muskellunge per trap net at Detroit Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 20–50 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Detroit Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Detroit Lake thaw?
- Detroit Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 21. Ice typically forms around Nov 24. The open water season is approximately 217 days.
Does Detroit Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Detroit Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (97,275 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Detroit Lake?
- Detroit Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Detroit Lake (Northwest), Detroit Lake (Northcentral), Detroit Lake (Northeast). Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Detroit Lake?
- Detroit Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Detroit Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Becker County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Detroit Lakes Area area
Top lakes and where to stay in the Park Rapids Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Red River of the North Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Detroit Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Detroit Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
354 measurements from 4 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
MNPCA354 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 (4)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate