Floyd Lake
Becker County, MinnesotaMesotrophic
Floyd Lake sits at the top of the Minnesota PCA grading rubric with an A, a mark reached by the cleanest lakes in Minnesota. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.
Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Floyd Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. The lake bottoms out at 34 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. With 1,178 acres of surface and 9.7 miles of shoreline, Floyd Lake is a large water by Minnesota standards — recreational pressure is spread across a long shoreline. Within Becker County's 93 graded waters, Floyd Lake sits at rank 21, near the top of the local distribution.
Floyd Lake is on the Minnesota infested-waters list for zebra mussels — boaters should follow clean-drain-dry protocols when moving gear to or from the lake. Walleye are documented at Floyd Lake, one of 16 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Floyd Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The lake has a partial ice record — 24 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 24. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft. Phosphorus level: 12.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | 12.5 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 34 ft |
| Surface Area | 1.2K acres |
| Shoreline Length | 9.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 73% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Floyd Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Floyd Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Floyd Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Invasive Species
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.013 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.4 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (33 observations).
Estimated open water season: 214 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-24 (2012) | 2013-05-12 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2019-11-07 (2019) | 2009-12-05 (2009) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-07
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #21 of 93 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Floyd Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-06-21 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| BNS | 217.31 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 82.96 | — |
| Fathead Minnow | 66.65 | — |
| MMS | 49.09 | — |
| BKF | 38.26 | — |
| Bluegill | 27.16 | 0.2 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
From the 2021-06-21 survey
Floyd (a.k.a., Big Floyd) Lake is a 1,212-acre lake located in Becker County two miles north of the city of Detroit Lakes. Floyd Lake's shoreline is heavily developed, and the lake receives a high amount of angling pressure and recreational use. Floyd Lake consists of two basins, the shallow larger main basin and the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Floyd Lake. 3 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FloydFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — FloydFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — FloydPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2024-09-29
Monitoring stations: 1