Hanging Kettle Lake
Hanging Kettle Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 317.97 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 70°F
- Max depth
- 35 ft
- Area
- 318 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 16
- Open water
- 225 days
Next lake in Aitkin County
Why Hanging Kettle Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Hanging Kettle Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Hanging Kettle Lake is a 318-acre lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 35 feet (16-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 18 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Hanging Kettle Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 6.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Hanging Kettle Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hanging Kettle Lake in Aitkin 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 Hanging Kettle Lake
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Water Temperature
Hanging Kettle Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 72°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 125 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Hanging Kettle Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Hanging Kettle Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (94,624 cells/mL) on November 15, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 35 ft |
| Average Depth | 16 ft |
| Surface Area | 318 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 45% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Hanging Kettle LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Hanging Kettle Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-16 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Spottail Shiner | 17.31 | — |
| Bluegill | 15.86 | 0.18 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 15.11 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 12.62 | 1.27 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 9.83 | 0.12 lb |
| JND | 7.86 | — |
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
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-07-16 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Hanging Kettle Lake was conducted on July 16-17, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hanging Kettle Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Hanging KettleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Hanging Kettle (0055)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Hanging KettleFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Hanging KettlePublic 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 | -0.515 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (28 observations).
Estimated open water season: 225 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-13 (2024) | 2018-05-03 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2019-11-08 (2019) | 2004-12-14 (2004) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-13
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Hanging Kettle Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Hanging Kettle Lake (completed 1937), built primarily for recreation on the Ripple River; gravity-type dam, 10 ft tall and 40 ft long.
- Surface area
- 320 ac
- Normal storage
- 4,896 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 5,814 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 107 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00244 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Hanging Kettle Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN01-0170-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Hanging Kettle Lake
Hanging Kettle Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Aitkin County
Frequently asked questions about Hanging Kettle Lake
What is the water quality grade for Hanging Kettle Lake?
- Hanging Kettle Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 317.97 acres.
Is Hanging Kettle Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Hanging Kettle Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Hanging Kettle Lake?
- Hanging Kettle Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August, from 125 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Hanging Kettle Lake?
- Hanging Kettle Lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet and an average depth of 16 feet. The lake covers 317.97 acres.
What fish are in Hanging Kettle Lake?
- Fish species found in Hanging Kettle Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, greater redhorse, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Hanging Kettle Lake is located in Aitkin County, Minnesota.
When does Hanging Kettle Lake thaw?
- Hanging Kettle Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 16. Ice typically forms around Nov 27. The open water season is approximately 225 days.
Does Hanging Kettle Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Hanging Kettle Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (94,624 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Hanging Kettle Lake?
- Hanging Kettle Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Hanging Kettle Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
82 measurements from 3 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
MNPCA82 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate