Fish Hook Lake
Fish Hook Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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.
- Clarity
- 10.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 76 ft
- Area
- 1,643 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 25
- Open water
- 217 days
Next lake in Hubbard County
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). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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 2 public boat landings. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 13 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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.
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Water Temperature
Fish Hook Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 76 ft |
| Average Depth | 26 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,643 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 9.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 40% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Fish Hook LakePublic
- Heartland ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-11 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 28.74 | 0.14 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 25.27 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 13.12 | 0.12 lb |
| CNM | 10.25 | — |
| BCS | 7.90 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 7.69 | 1.03 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
Largemouth Bass
From the 2022-07-11 survey
Fish Hook Lake is located two miles north of Park Rapids in west-central Hubbard County. Fish Hook has a surface area of 1,643 acres and a maximum depth of 76 feet. A DNR owned public access is located on the west shore of the lake off US-71. Access is also available from the Fish Hook River, with a county access 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
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.033 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.47 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.04 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (35 observations).
Estimated open water season: 217 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-17 (2024) | 2013-05-11 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-20 (2018) | 2015-12-19 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-17
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
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN29-0242-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #41 of 68 lakes in Hubbard County
Nearby Lakes in Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Fish Hook Lake
What is the water quality grade for Fish Hook Lake?
- Fish Hook Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Fish Hook Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Fish Hook Lake?
- Fish Hook Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, 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.
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 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Fish Hook Lake, Heartland Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Fish Hook 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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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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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)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate