Dudley Lake
Dudley Lake in Rice County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 54 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 60 ft. Surface area: 128.2 acres.
- Clarity
- 9 ft
- Typical in August
- 58°F
- Max depth
- 60 ft
- Area
- 128 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Mar 30
- Open water
- 248 days
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Dudley Lake →
Next lake in Rice County
Dudley Lake is a 128-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Rice County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 60 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 13 other monitored lakes in Rice County, Dudley Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-08-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. Phosphorus level: 54 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 13.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 54 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 13.6 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Dudley Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Dudley Lake in Rice 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Dudley Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Dudley Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Dudley Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 57°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 59°F) and coldest in Oct (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 98 field readings (2022–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Dudley Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 60 ft |
| Surface Area | 128 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 66% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Dudley Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-06-15 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 47.20 | 0.13 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 6.75 | 0.1 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 5.09 | 0.79 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 4.01 | 0.66 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 3.66 | 0.63 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.56 | 1.99 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
Pumpkinseed
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Bass
From the 2022-06-15 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Kelly & Dudley Lake was conducted on June 15, 2022, by DNR Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Dudley Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — DudleyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Dudley (1388)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +5.1 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (22 observations).
Estimated open water season: 248 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-01 (2024) | 2018-04-29 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2007-11-29 (2007) | 2015-12-19 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-26
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 14 lakes in Rice County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Dudley Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Rice County
Frequently asked questions about Dudley Lake
What is the water quality grade for Dudley Lake?
- Dudley Lake in Rice County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 54 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 60 ft. Surface area: 128.2 acres.
Is Dudley Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Dudley Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 13.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Dudley Lake?
- Dudley Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in August, from 98 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Dudley Lake?
- Dudley Lake has a maximum depth of 60 feet. The lake covers 128.2 acres.
What fish are in Dudley Lake?
- Fish species found in Dudley Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Dudley Lake is located in Rice County, Minnesota.
When does Dudley Lake thaw?
- Dudley Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 30. Ice typically forms around Dec 3. The open water season is approximately 248 days.
Explore Dudley Lake across LakeGrade
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Fish species and best lakes in Rice County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
32 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA32 samples · 2022–2023
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 (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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate