Hall Lake
Martin County, Minnesota548 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Hall Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Impaired biota (cause unknown)
- 27 ft max depth
- Public access
Hall Lake in Martin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 96 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 57.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 548.05 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 29, 2022 caught 3.33 walleye per gill net at Hall Lake. DNR survey details →
Hall Lake is a 548-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Martin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 27 feet. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 19 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Martin County, Hall Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-30. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Hall Lake covers about 550 acres in Martin County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is March 21, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Hall Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Hall Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing19 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Mar 21
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Hall Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for impaired biota (cause unknown), nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Hall Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Hall Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Hall Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 96 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 57.4 µg/L. TSI 67.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 96µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 57.4µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 67 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Hall Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Hall Lake typically sits around 51°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in Apr (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (50°F) to its warmest (79°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 130 field readings (2017–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Hall Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Hall Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was very high (1,819,701 cells/mL) on July 19, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 29, 2022 caught 3.33 walleye per gill net at Hall Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Hall Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-09-22 (Targeted Survey).
12 surveys on file · most recent 2023-09-22 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 18.04 | 8 in 2022-08-29 | 0.52 lb |
| Freshwater Drum | 17.69 | 5–18 in 2022-08-29 | 0.57 lb |
| Common Carp | 16.14 | 21–31 in 2022-08-29 | 4.82 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 11.96 | 6–10 in 2022-08-29 | 0.24 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Black Bullhead
Freshwater Drum
Common Carp
Yellow Perch
From the 2023-09-22 survey
Walleye have been managed for many years in the Fairmont chain-of-lakes. Past stockings have included Walleye fry, fingerling, yearlings, and adults. Essentially, whatever life stage of Walleye was available they would be stocked into the lakes. However, since 2019 the Fairmont chain-of-lakes has been stocked with…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hall Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HallFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — HallFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — HallPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
27 ft
Surface area
548 acres
Shoreline
4.1 mi
Littoral zone
51%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
54 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,145 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Hall LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Hall Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hall Lake in Martin 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Hall Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Hall Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Hall Lake
Water Quality Trend: Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Stable-0.57 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+5.85 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Mar 21
Earliest Feb 26, 2024 · Latest Apr 29, 2018
Typical ice-in
Dec 2
Earliest Nov 13, 2018 · Latest Dec 19, 2015
Most recent ice-out
Mar 10
2026
29 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Hall Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN46-0031-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Martin County
Frequently asked questions about Hall Lake
Where is Hall Lake?
- Hall Lake is a lake in Martin County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Hall Lake?
- Hall Lake in Martin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 96 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 57.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 548.05 acres.
Is Hall Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Hall Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for impaired biota (cause unknown), nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Hall Lake?
- Hall Lake typically sits around 51°F at the surface in October, from 130 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Hall Lake?
- Hall Lake has a maximum depth of 27 feet. The lake covers 548.05 acres.
What fish are in Hall Lake?
- Fish species found in Hall Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, freshwater drum, green sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, orangespotted sunfish, quillback, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bass, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Hall Lake is located in Martin County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Hall Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 29, 2022 caught 3.33 walleye per gill net at Hall Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Hall Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Hall Lake thaw?
- Hall Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 21. Ice typically forms around Dec 2. The open water season is approximately 256 days.
Does Hall Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Hall Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was very high (1,819,701 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Hall Lake?
- Hall Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Hall Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Hall Lake?
- Hall Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Hall Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Martin County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Hall Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
98 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
MNPCA98 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 3 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by fluorometer
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate