Fish Lake
Fish Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 49 ft. Surface area: 237.73 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 60°F
- Max depth
- 49 ft
- Area
- 238 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 5
Next lake in Hennepin County
Fish Lake is a 238-acre mesotrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 49 feet (20-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Fish Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-13. 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 8.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 29.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 29.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Fish Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fish Lake in Hennepin 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 60°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 58°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 60°F) and coldest in Jan (about 37°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 2,040 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Fish Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 49 ft |
| Average Depth | 20.3 ft |
| Surface Area | 238 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 45% |
| 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
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-15 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 42.15 | 0.13 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 16.54 | 0.38 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 4.71 | 1.13 lb |
| Black Crappie | 4.61 | 0.19 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.55 | 3.42 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.95 | 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
Largemouth Bass
Black Crappie
From the 2024-07-15 survey
Fish Lake is a 238-acre lake with a maximum depth of 49 feet. Fish is located in Maple Grove, in northern Hennepin County. Three Rivers Park District owns and maintains a public access ramp in Fish Lake Regional Park on the southern shore of the lake. Fish is primarily managed for Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass,…
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: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.072 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.85 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +6.25 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (36 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-03-08 (2000) | 2018-04-30 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2006-12-01 (2006) | 2015-12-19 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2020-03-29
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 MN27-0118-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 81 lakes in Hennepin County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Fish Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Fish Lake
What is the water quality grade for Fish Lake?
- Fish Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 49 ft. Surface area: 237.73 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 6.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Fish Lake?
- Fish Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in August, from 2,040 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 49 feet and an average depth of 20.3 feet. The lake covers 237.73 acres.
What fish are in Fish Lake?
- Fish species found in Fish Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Fish Lake is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
When does Fish Lake thaw?
- Fish Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 5.
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
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Hennepin County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Fish Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
387 measurements from 3 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
MNPCA387 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 4500 N C ~ Persufate Method for Total Nitrogen
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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