First Crow Wing Lake
First Crow Wing Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 522.02 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.9 ft
- Max depth
- 15 ft
- Area
- 522 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 16
- Open water
- 213 days
Next lake in Hubbard County
First Crow Wing Lake is a 522-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 15 feet (4-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 17 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, First Crow Wing Lake ranks #64 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)
Murky, only visible to about 5.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 10.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.9 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near First Crow Wing Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near First 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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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 15 ft |
| Average Depth | 4 ft |
| Surface Area | 522 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| 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 First Crow Wing 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
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-05-28 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 27.31 | 0.1 lb |
| CNM | 13.03 | — |
| Bluegill | 12.64 | 0.31 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.48 | 2.02 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 6.04 | 0.93 lb |
| White Sucker | 4.80 | 2.22 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.
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Northern Pike
Brown Bullhead
From the 2024-05-28 survey
First Crow Wing Lake is located seven miles east of Hubbard in southern Hubbard County. First Crow Wing is part of a chain of lakes running from Eleventh Crow Wing Lake at the headwaters, down to First Crow Wing Lake. First Crow Wing Lake has a surface area of 522 acres and a maximum depth of 15 feet. A DNR-owned…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for First Crow Wing Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — First Crow WingFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — First Crow WingFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.189 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -7.26 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -5.07 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (10 observations).
Estimated open water season: 213 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2005-04-09 (2005) | 2019-04-21 (2019) |
| Ice-In | 2019-11-08 (2019) | 2001-12-01 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2019-04-21
EPA Impairment Status
First 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 MN29-0086-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #64 of 68 lakes in Hubbard County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
First 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 First Crow Wing Lake
What is the water quality grade for First Crow Wing Lake?
- First Crow Wing Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 522.02 acres.
Is First Crow Wing Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. First Crow Wing Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 10.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is First Crow Wing Lake?
- First Crow Wing Lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet and an average depth of 4 feet. The lake covers 522.02 acres.
What fish are in First Crow Wing Lake?
- Fish species found in First Crow Wing Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. First Crow Wing Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
When does First Crow Wing Lake thaw?
- First Crow Wing Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 16. Ice typically forms around Nov 15. The open water season is approximately 213 days.
Explore First Crow Wing Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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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
55 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
MNPCA55 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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate