Fish Hook Lake
Hubbard County, Minnesota1,643 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Fish Hook Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- zebra mussel
- 76 ft max depth
- Public access
Fish Hook Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 76 ft. Surface area: 1642.56 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 11, 2022 caught 6.67 walleye per gill net at Fish Hook Lake. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of Fish Hook Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 70 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Fish Hook Lake is a 1,643-acre mesotrophic lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 76 feet (26-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Hubbard County, Fish Hook Lake ranks #41 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-21. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Fish Hook Lake covers about 1,600 acres in Hubbard County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 25, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Fish Hook Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Fish Hook Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water10.2 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing14 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 25
- Deep water76 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water1,643 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Fish Hook Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Fish Hook Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Fish Hook Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Fish Hook Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 10.2 ft. Phosphorus 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.5 µg/L. TSI 43.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 10.2ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 13µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 4.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 43 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Fish Hook Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Fish Hook Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (56°F) to its warmest (75°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 21 field readings (2010–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Fish Hook Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 11, 2022 caught 6.67 walleye per gill net at Fish Hook Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Fish Hook Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-28 (Targeted Survey).
13 surveys on file · most recent 2025-07-28 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 28.74 | 2–8 in 2022-07-11 | 0.14 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 25.27 | ||
| Yellow Perch | 13.12 | 5–9 in 2022-07-11 | 0.12 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 7.69 | 5–18 in 2022-07-11 | 1.03 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Largemouth Bass
From the 2025-07-28 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Fish Hook Lake on July 28th, 2025. This was done to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Fish Hook Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Fish HookFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Fish Hook (1285)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Fish HookFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Fish HookPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
76 ft
Average depth
26 ft
Surface area
1,643 acres
Shoreline
9.1 mi
Littoral zone
40%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
255 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,407 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Fish Hook LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Fish Hook Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fish Hook 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Fish Hook Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Fish Hook 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.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+0.47 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Stable-0.04 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 25
Earliest Mar 17, 2024 · Latest May 11, 2013
Typical ice-in
Nov 28
Earliest Nov 20, 2018 · Latest Dec 19, 2015
Most recent ice-out
Apr 17
2025
35 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Fish Hook Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN29-0242-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Fish Hook Lake
Where is Fish Hook Lake?
- Fish Hook Lake is a lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Fish Hook Lake?
- Fish Hook Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 76 ft. Surface area: 1642.56 acres.
Is Fish Hook Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Fish Hook Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Fish Hook Lake?
- Fish Hook Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in September, from 21 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Fish Hook Lake?
- Fish Hook Lake has a maximum depth of 76 feet and an average depth of 26 feet. The lake covers 1642.56 acres.
What fish are in Fish Hook Lake?
- Fish species found in Fish Hook Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Fish Hook Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Fish Hook Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 11, 2022 caught 6.67 walleye per gill net at Fish Hook Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Fish Hook Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Fish Hook Lake thaw?
- Fish Hook Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 25. Ice typically forms around Nov 28. The open water season is approximately 217 days.
Are there boat ramps on Fish Hook Lake?
- Fish Hook Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Fish Hook Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Fish Hook Lake?
- Fish Hook Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Fish Hook Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
85 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
MNPCA85 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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate