Games Lake
Games Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 526.7 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 69°F
- Max depth
- 42 ft
- Area
- 527 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Kandiyohi County
Games Lake is a 527-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 42 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 24 other monitored lakes in Kandiyohi County, Games Lake ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. 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)
Murky, only visible to about 5.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 31.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 12.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 31.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 12.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Games Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Games Lake in Kandiyohi 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Games Lake
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Water Temperature
Games Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in May (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 21 field readings (2011–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Games Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 42 ft |
| Surface Area | 527 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 46% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Games Lake (South)Public
- Games Lake (North)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Games 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
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-08 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 54.29 | — |
| Bluegill | 30.79 | 0.1 lb |
| SUN | 28.38 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 15.26 | 0.09 lb |
| IOD | 10.39 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 9.96 | 0.8 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
SUN
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
From the 2024-07-08 survey
A standard survey of Games Lake was conducted in early July of 2024. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e., spawning season, fall season, etc.) unlike a standard survey which samples a wider range of fish species during the summer months using standard…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Games Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GamesFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — GamesFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — GamesPublic 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 | -0.051 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.76 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.25 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Games 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 MN34-0224-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 25 lakes in Kandiyohi County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Games Lake holds Grade C. 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 Kandiyohi County
Frequently asked questions about Games Lake
What is the water quality grade for Games Lake?
- Games Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 526.7 acres.
Is Games Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Games Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 12.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Games Lake?
- Games Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August, from 21 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Games Lake?
- Games Lake has a maximum depth of 42 feet. The lake covers 526.7 acres.
What fish are in Games Lake?
- Fish species found in Games Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, freshwater drum, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, shortnose gar, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Games Lake is located in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Games Lake?
- Games Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Games Lake (South), Games Lake (North). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Games 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 Kandiyohi 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
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Games Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
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Where this data comes from
78 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
MNPCA78 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory