Gillett Lake
Gillett Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 19 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 49 ft. Surface area: 44 acres.
- Clarity
- 19 ft
- Typical in August
- 67°F
- Max depth
- 49 ft
- Area
- 44 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 18
- Open water
- 216 days
Next lake in Hubbard County
Gillett Lake is a 44-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 49 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Hubbard County, Gillett Lake ranks #50 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-25. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Gillett Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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)
Crystal clear, you can see 19 ft down. Phosphorus level: 8.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 19 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 8.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Gillett Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Gillett Lake in Hubbard 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 Gillett 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 →
Water Temperature
Gillett Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 70°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 94 field readings (2023–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Gillett Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 49 ft |
| Surface Area | 44 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 44% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Gillett Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2012-05-29 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 12.06 | 0.19 lb |
| Black Crappie | 3.92 | 0.17 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.72 | 2.14 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.31 | 0.17 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 2.84 | 0.91 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 1.23 | 1.7 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.
Yellow Perch
Black Crappie
Northern Pike
Pumpkinseed
From the 2012-05-29 survey
Gillett Lake is located in central Hubbard County, four miles southeast of the town of Lake George. Gillett is a small, deep lake with a surface area of 44 acres and a maximum depth of 49 feet. A state owned gravel access is located off the Halverson Forest Road, on the north shore of the lake. The lake provides…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Gillett Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GillettFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.16 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.6 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (20 observations).
Estimated open water season: 216 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-04-03 (2000) | 1989-04-25 (1989) |
| Ice-In | 1993-10-31 (1993) | 1999-11-29 (1999) |
Most recent ice-out: 2000-04-03
County Ranking
Ranked #50 of 68 lakes in Hubbard County
Nearby Lakes in Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Gillett Lake
What is the water quality grade for Gillett Lake?
- Gillett Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 19 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 49 ft. Surface area: 44 acres.
Is Gillett Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Gillett Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Gillett Lake?
- Gillett Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August, from 94 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Gillett Lake?
- Gillett Lake has a maximum depth of 49 feet. The lake covers 44 acres.
What fish are in Gillett Lake?
- Fish species found in Gillett Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow perch. Gillett Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
When does Gillett Lake thaw?
- Gillett Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 18. Ice typically forms around Nov 20. The open water season is approximately 216 days.
Explore Gillett Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Hubbard County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Park Rapids Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Gillett Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
113 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA113 samples · 2023–2024
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate