Fish Trap Lake
Fish Trap Lake in Morrison County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 1163.81 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 70°F
- Max depth
- 42 ft
- Area
- 1,164 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 17
- Open water
- 224 days
Next lake in Morrison County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Fish Trap Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 40 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Fish Trap Lake is a 1,164-acre mesotrophic lake in Morrison County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 42 feet (21-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 18 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Morrison County, Fish Trap Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-19. 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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.7 ft. Phosphorus level: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 22 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Fish Trap Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fish Trap Lake in Morrison 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 Trap Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Oct (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 81 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Fish Trap Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 42 ft |
| Average Depth | 20.5 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,164 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 13.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 35% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Alexander Lake (West)Public
- Fish Trap LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Fish Trap 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
26 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-09-19 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| SUN | 68.78 | — |
| MTS | 26.20 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 23.15 | 0.88 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 20.50 | — |
| Bluegill | 15.95 | 0.15 lb |
| JND | 11.98 | — |
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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
From the 2025-09-19 survey
Fish Trap Lake is a 1,164 acre lake located near Lincoln, Minnesota. The lake has 13.12 miles of shoreline, a maximum depth of 42 feet, and a littoral area of 404 acres. A state-owned public access is on the northwest portion of the lake. Primary management species include Northern Pike and Walleye. Secondary…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Fish Trap 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 TrapFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Fish Trap (1916)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Fish TrapFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Fish TrapPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.144 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.07 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.36 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (80 observations).
Estimated open water season: 224 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-13 (2024) | 2008-05-03 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 1995-11-12 (1995) | 2001-12-15 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-13
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 8 lakes in Morrison County
Nearby Lakes in Morrison County
Frequently asked questions about Fish Trap Lake
What is the water quality grade for Fish Trap Lake?
- Fish Trap Lake in Morrison County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 1163.81 acres.
Is Fish Trap Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Fish Trap Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Fish Trap Lake?
- Fish Trap Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August, from 81 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Fish Trap Lake?
- Fish Trap Lake has a maximum depth of 42 feet and an average depth of 20.5 feet. The lake covers 1163.81 acres.
What fish are in Fish Trap Lake?
- Fish species found in Fish Trap Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Fish Trap Lake is located in Morrison County, Minnesota.
When does Fish Trap Lake thaw?
- Fish Trap Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 17. Ice typically forms around Nov 27. The open water season is approximately 224 days.
Are there boat ramps on Fish Trap Lake?
- Fish Trap Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Alexander Lake (West), Fish Trap Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Fish Trap Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Morrison 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
61 measurements from 2 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
MNPCA61 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 (2)
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
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