Fifth Crow Wing Lake
Fifth Crow Wing Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 400.12 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 69°F
- Max depth
- 35 ft
- Area
- 400 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 15
- Open water
- 223 days
Next lake in Hubbard County
Fifth Crow Wing Lake is a 400-acre mesotrophic lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 35 feet (15-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Hubbard County, Fifth Crow Wing Lake ranks #62 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 onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.7 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Fifth Crow Wing Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fifth Crow Wing 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
Fifth Crow Wing Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 83 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Fifth Crow Wing Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 35 ft |
| Average Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 400 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 49% |
| 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 Fifth Crow Wing Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-19 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 16.79 | 0.19 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 14.81 | 0.13 lb |
| CNM | 9.32 | — |
| Pumpkinseed | 6.30 | 0.16 lb |
| IOD | 5.96 | — |
| BKF | 5.41 | — |
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
Pumpkinseed
From the 2024-08-19 survey
Fifth Crow Wing Lake is located three miles southwest of Nevis in southern Hubbard County. Fifth Crow Wing is part of a chain of lakes running from Eleventh Crow Wing Lake at the headwaters, down to First Crow Wing Lake. Fifth Crow Wing Lake has a surface area of 400 acres and a maximum depth of 35 feet. There is no…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Fifth Crow Wing Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Fifth Crow WingFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Fifth Crow Wing (1310)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Fifth Crow WingFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.024 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.14 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.75 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (55 observations).
Estimated open water season: 223 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-15 (2024) | 2013-05-07 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-04 (1991) | 2001-12-18 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-15
EPA Impairment Status
Fifth Crow Wing 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 MN29-0092-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #62 of 68 lakes in Hubbard County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Fifth Crow Wing Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Fifth Crow Wing Lake
What is the water quality grade for Fifth Crow Wing Lake?
- Fifth Crow Wing Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 400.12 acres.
Is Fifth Crow Wing Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Fifth Crow Wing Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Fifth Crow Wing Lake?
- Fifth Crow Wing Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August, from 83 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Fifth Crow Wing Lake?
- Fifth Crow Wing Lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet and an average depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 400.12 acres.
What fish are in Fifth Crow Wing Lake?
- Fish species found in Fifth Crow Wing Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Fifth Crow Wing Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
When does Fifth Crow Wing Lake thaw?
- Fifth Crow Wing Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 15. Ice typically forms around Nov 24. The open water season is approximately 223 days.
Explore Fifth Crow Wing 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
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Where this data comes from
113 measurements from 2 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
MNPCA113 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 (2)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate