Duck Lake
Duck Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 326.41 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 23 ft
- Area
- 326 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 17
- Open water
- 223 days
Next lake in Hubbard County
Duck Lake is a 326-acre mesotrophic lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 23 feet (14-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and hybrid sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Hubbard County, Duck Lake ranks #26 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 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)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Duck Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Duck Lake in Hubbard 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
Duck Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 73°F) and coldest in May (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 26 field readings (2011–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Duck Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 23 ft |
| Average Depth | 14 ft |
| Surface Area | 326 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 46% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Duck LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Duck 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
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2019-08-19 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| MMS | 332.28 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 104.24 | — |
| IOD | 52.55 | — |
| BNS | 46.27 | — |
| Bluegill | 28.37 | 0.15 lb |
| BKF | 28.35 | — |
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
From the 2019-08-19 survey
Duck Lake is located on the southern border of Hubbard County. Duck Lake has a surface area of 326 acres and a maximum depth of 23 feet. There is a state-owned public access located on the southwest shore of the lake. Duck Lake has good water quality and lots of sand shoreline. Duck supports good populations of…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Duck Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — DuckFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Duck (1273)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — DuckFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — DuckPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.237 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.73 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.14 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (43 observations).
Estimated open water season: 223 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-24 (2012) | 2013-05-08 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2019-11-08 (2019) | 2017-12-14 (2017) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-15
EPA Impairment Status
Duck 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 MN29-0087-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.46 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #26 of 68 lakes in Hubbard County
Nearby Lakes in Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Duck Lake
What is the water quality grade for Duck Lake?
- Duck Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 326.41 acres.
Is Duck Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Duck Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Duck Lake?
- Duck Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 26 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Duck Lake?
- Duck Lake has a maximum depth of 23 feet and an average depth of 14 feet. The lake covers 326.41 acres.
What fish are in Duck Lake?
- Fish species found in Duck Lake include black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Duck Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
When does Duck Lake thaw?
- Duck Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 17. Ice typically forms around Nov 26. The open water season is approximately 223 days.
Are there boat ramps on Duck Lake?
- Duck Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Duck Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Duck Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Hubbard County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Park Rapids Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
88 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
MNPCA88 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 (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
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