Eagle Lake
Kandiyohi County, MinnesotaMesotrophic
Eagle Lake earns a C — middle-of-the-pack water quality, with one or two parameters dragging the average down from a stronger grade. Secchi readings are the weakest of the three parameters, suggesting suspended sediment or algal biomass dominates the optical signal.
A TSI near 50 places Eagle Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. The lake's 67 ft maximum depth is in the upper tier for Minnesota — deep enough for cold-water fish to find refuge in summer. Eagle Lake covers 849 acres alongside 5.0 miles of shoreline — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Eagle Lake ranks 9 of 35 in Kandiyohi County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.
Zebra mussel presence at Eagle Lake means the lake's clarity numbers carry an asterisk — filtered water is not the same as nutrient-poor water. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 17 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The lake has a partial ice record — 13 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 6. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Murky, only visible to about 6.4 ft. Phosphorus level: 23 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.4 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 23 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 67 ft |
| Surface Area | 849.47 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 32% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Eagle Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Eagle Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Eagle Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Invasive Species
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.135 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.05 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (20 observations).
Estimated open water season: 244 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2017-03-08 (2017) | 2018-05-01 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2002-11-24 (2002) | 2024-01-07 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2020-04-03
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 35 lakes in Kandiyohi County
Nearby Lakes in Kandiyohi County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Eagle Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
19 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-07 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 150.13 | — |
| Spottail Shiner | 63.13 | — |
| Bluegill | 44.47 | 0.16 lb |
| BKF | 33.89 | — |
| IOD | 28.75 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 22.74 | 0.11 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
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-07-07 survey
A standard survey of Eagle Lake was conducted during early-July of 2025. A fall night electrofishing survey was conducted for young of year "YOY" (fingerling sized) Walleye in early October of 2025. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e. spawning season, fall…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Eagle Lake. 3 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — EagleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — EagleFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — EaglePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2024-09-27
Monitoring stations: 2