Hoffman Lake
Hoffman Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 157.18 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 20 ft
- Area
- 157 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Otter Tail County
Hoffman Lake is a 157-acre mesotrophic lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 20 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including largemouth bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 65 other monitored lakes in Otter Tail County, Hoffman Lake ranks #59 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-25. 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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 25 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Hoffman Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hoffman Lake in Otter Tail 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.
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Water Temperature
Hoffman Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°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 26 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Hoffman Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 20 ft |
| Surface Area | 157 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 95% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- West McDonald LakePublic
- Hoffman LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Hoffman Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2019-05-31 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 50.07 | 0.2 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 25.59 | 0.37 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 24.39 | 0.96 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 13.43 | 0.62 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 10.15 | 0.23 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 9.76 | 0.64 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
Yellow Bass
Largemouth Bass
Brown Bullhead
From the 2019-05-31 survey
Hoffman Lake is a 150-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in central Otter Tail County approximately four miles south of Vergas, MN. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood woodlots. The maximum depth is 20 feet; however, the majority of the lake is…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hoffman Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HoffmanFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Hoffman (1047)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — HoffmanFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.019 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.11 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.11 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Hoffman 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 MN56-0386-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.6 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #59 of 66 lakes in Otter Tail County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Hoffman 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 Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about Hoffman Lake
What is the water quality grade for Hoffman Lake?
- Hoffman Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 9.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 157.18 acres.
Is Hoffman Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Hoffman Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Hoffman Lake?
- Hoffman Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 26 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Hoffman Lake?
- Hoffman Lake has a maximum depth of 20 feet. The lake covers 157.18 acres.
What fish are in Hoffman Lake?
- Fish species found in Hoffman Lake include largemouth bass. Hoffman Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Hoffman Lake?
- Hoffman Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include West McDonald Lake, Hoffman Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
52 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
MNPCA52 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