Fish Lake
Fish Lake in Wright County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 57 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 33.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 38 ft. Surface area: 97.35 acres.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Max depth
- 38 ft
- Area
- 97 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 13
- Open water
- 232 days
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Fish Lake →
Next lake in Wright County
Fish Lake is a 97-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Wright County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 38 feet (13-foot average). Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 50 other monitored lakes in Wright County, Fish Lake ranks #32 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 57 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 33.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 63.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 57 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 33.1 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Fish Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fish Lake in Wright 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Fish Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Fish Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 38 ft |
| Average Depth | 13.2 ft |
| Surface Area | 97 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 60% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Fish LakePublic
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
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2014-06-09 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 12.31 | 0.16 lb |
| Golden Redhorse | 11.61 | 3.9 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 9.45 | 1.11 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.78 | 0.12 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 6.80 | 0.44 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.98 | 2.99 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
Golden Redhorse
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
From the 2014-06-09 survey
Fish Lake is a small, 98 acre lake located in northern Wright County near the City of Clearwater. It has a maximum depth of 38 feet and a large watershed dominated by agriculture and forest. Fish Creek runs through the lake and connects to the Mississippi River; water quality is poor. A small public access is located…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Fish Lake. 2 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
- —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 | -0.103 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +7.06 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +9.07 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (12 observations).
Estimated open water season: 232 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2017-03-25 (2017) | 2008-04-21 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2002-11-11 (2002) | 2001-12-21 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-04-15
EPA Impairment Status
Fish 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 MN86-0183-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Fish Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Clear Lake/Clearwater Sewer AuthorityClear Lake · 2.7 mi away · NPDES MN0047490
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #32 of 51 lakes in Wright County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Fish Lake holds Grade F. 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 Wright County
Frequently asked questions about Fish Lake
What is the water quality grade for Fish Lake?
- Fish Lake in Wright County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 57 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 33.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 38 ft. Surface area: 97.35 acres.
Is Fish Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Fish Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 33.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Fish Lake?
- Fish Lake has a maximum depth of 38 feet and an average depth of 13.2 feet. The lake covers 97.35 acres.
What fish are in Fish Lake?
- Fish species found in Fish Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, channel catfish, common carp, golden redhorse, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Fish Lake is located in Wright County, Minnesota.
When does Fish Lake thaw?
- Fish Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 13. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 232 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. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Fish Lake across LakeGrade
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Fish species and best lakes in Wright County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
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Where this data comes from
83 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
MNPCA83 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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