Hanging Kettle Lake
Aitkin County, Minnesota318 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Hanging Kettle Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Impaired · Mercury
- 35 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Hanging Kettle Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 317.97 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 16, 2025 caught 0.67 northern pike per trap net at Hanging Kettle Lake. DNR survey details →
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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Hanging Kettle Lake covers about 320 acres in Aitkin County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 16, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Hanging Kettle Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Hanging Kettle Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing18 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 16
- Deep water35 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
No readingLimited data
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Hanging Kettle Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Hanging Kettle 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 Hanging Kettle Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Hanging Kettle Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 6.5 ft. TSI 50.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 6.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | No reading The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. | |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 50 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Hanging Kettle Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Hanging Kettle Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (57°F) to its warmest (72°F).
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 ↗
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 16, 2025 caught 0.67 northern pike per trap net at Hanging Kettle Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Hanging Kettle Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-16 (Targeted Survey).
14 surveys on file · most recent 2025-07-16 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spottail Shiner | 17.31 | ||
| Bluegill | 15.86 | 2–8 in 2025-07-16 | 0.18 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 15.11 | ||
| Largemouth Bass | 12.62 | 17 in 2025-07-16 | 1.27 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 9.83 | 5–10 in 2023-06-26 | 0.12 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.
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
Lake Details
Max depth
35 ft
Average depth
16 ft
Surface area
318 acres
Shoreline
3.8 mi
Littoral zone
45%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Recreation & Access
- Hanging Kettle 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 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
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 →
Follow Hanging Kettle Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Hanging Kettle Lake
- → Hanging Kettle Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Hanging Kettle Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Hanging Kettle Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Hanging Kettle Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 16
Earliest Mar 13, 2024 · Latest May 3, 2018
Typical ice-in
Nov 27
Earliest Nov 8, 2019 · Latest Dec 14, 2004
Most recent ice-out
Mar 13
2024
28 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
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
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN01-0170-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Aitkin County
Frequently asked questions about Hanging Kettle Lake
Where is Hanging Kettle Lake?
- Hanging Kettle Lake is a lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Hanging Kettle Lake?
- Hanging Kettle Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 317.97 acres.
Is Hanging Kettle Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Hanging Kettle Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Hanging Kettle Lake?
- Hanging Kettle Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in September, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Hanging Kettle Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 16, 2025 caught 0.67 northern pike per trap net at Hanging Kettle Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Hanging Kettle Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Can I fish at Hanging Kettle Lake?
- Hanging Kettle 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 Hanging Kettle 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 Aitkin County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Brainerd Lakes area
Top lakes and where to stay in the Mille Lacs Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Rum River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Pine River Watersheds (Brainerd Lakes), ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Hanging Kettle Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
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)
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 details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate