Fairy Lake
Fairy Lake in Todd County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 14.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 306.91 acres.
- Clarity
- 14.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 37 ft
- Area
- 307 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 15
- Open water
- 225 days
Next lake in Todd County
Why Fairy Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Fairy Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Fairy Lake is a 307-acre lake in Todd County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 37 feet (17-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Fairy Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 14.2 ft. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Fairy Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fairy Lake in Todd 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 Fairy Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Fairy Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 72°F) and coldest in Oct (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 94 field readings (2021–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Fairy Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Fairy Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (194,089 cells/mL) on May 2, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 37 ft |
| Average Depth | 16.5 ft |
| Surface Area | 307 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 46% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Fairy LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Fairy Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
15 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-05-21 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 26.12 | 0.18 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 14.60 | 0.68 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 11.82 | 0.72 lb |
| Northern Pike | 7.91 | 1.46 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.52 | 0.2 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 3.07 | 0.23 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 Bass
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
From the 2024-05-21 survey
Spring trap netting targeting Bluegill and Black Crappie was conducted in May of 2024. Bluegill were assessed to estimate size structures and for comparisons to Area lakes with more restrictive bag limits aimed at improving Bluegill size structure. Additionally, a creel survey was ongoing during this survey along with…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Fairy Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FairyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Fairy (0902)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — FairyFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — FairyPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.106 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (73 observations).
Estimated open water season: 225 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-17 (2016) | 2013-05-09 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-12 (2018) | 2015-12-18 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-04-29
Graded lakes near Fairy Lake
Fairy Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Todd County
Frequently asked questions about Fairy Lake
What is the water quality grade for Fairy Lake?
- Fairy Lake in Todd County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 14.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 306.91 acres.
Is Fairy Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Fairy Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Fairy Lake?
- Fairy Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 94 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Fairy Lake?
- Fairy Lake has a maximum depth of 37 feet and an average depth of 16.5 feet. The lake covers 306.91 acres.
What fish are in Fairy Lake?
- Fish species found in Fairy Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, cisco species, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Fairy Lake is located in Todd County, Minnesota.
When does Fairy Lake thaw?
- Fairy Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 15. Ice typically forms around Nov 26. The open water season is approximately 225 days.
Does Fairy Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Fairy Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (194,089 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Fairy Lake?
- Fairy Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Fairy Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Fairy Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
65 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA65 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate