Fish Lake
Fish Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 37 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 33.5 ft. Surface area: 30.55 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 62°F
- Max depth
- 33.5 ft
- Area
- 31 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Mar 31
- Open water
- 238 days
Next lake in Dakota County
Fish Lake is a 31-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dakota County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 34 feet (8-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 7 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Dakota County, Fish Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-30. 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 7.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 37 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 37 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.1 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Fish Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fish Lake in Dakota 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 Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 62°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 63°F) and coldest in Feb (about 36°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 420 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Fish Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 33.5 ft |
| Average Depth | 8.3 ft |
| Surface Area | 31 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 78% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Fish Lake ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Fish 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
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2013-07-01 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 45.73 | 0.12 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 15.08 | 0.27 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 9.28 | 0.11 lb |
| Black Crappie | 7.05 | 0.14 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.60 | 2.72 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 5.67 | 0.14 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
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Black Crappie
From the 2013-07-01 survey
Fish Lake is a 29 acre lake managed by the Fishing in the Neighborhood Program and the City of Eagan. The lake has a boat access (electric motors only), a fishing pier, and shore fishing areas for anglers. The lake supports a diverse fish community and was previously stocked with Channel Catfish from 1998-2002.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Fish Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FishFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — FishFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — FishPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.107 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.76 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.11 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (9 observations).
Estimated open water season: 238 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2002-03-16 (2002) | 2008-04-17 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2007-11-21 (2007) | 2005-11-26 (2005) |
Most recent ice-out: 2015-03-29
EPA Impairment Status
Fish Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN19-0057-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 45 lakes in Dakota County
Nearby Lakes in Dakota County
Frequently asked questions about Fish Lake
What is the water quality grade for Fish Lake?
- Fish Lake in Dakota County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 37 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 33.5 ft. Surface area: 30.55 acres.
Is Fish Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Fish Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 9.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Fish Lake?
- Fish Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in August, from 420 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Fish Lake?
- Fish Lake has a maximum depth of 33.5 feet and an average depth of 8.3 feet. The lake covers 30.55 acres.
What fish are in Fish Lake?
- Fish species found in Fish Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch. Fish Lake is located in Dakota County, Minnesota.
When does Fish Lake thaw?
- Fish Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 31. Ice typically forms around Nov 24. The open water season is approximately 238 days.
Are there boat ramps on Fish Lake?
- Fish Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Fish Lake Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Fish Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Dakota County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Minnesota River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Fish Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
323 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
MNPCA323 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity, Nephelometric 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
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