Hook Lake

Hook Lake grades an F: every scored parameter (clarity) rates poorly, placing it among the most stressed lakes monitored in Minnesota.

At a TSI of 61, Hook Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. The lake bottoms out at 18 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. At 330 acres, Hook Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 4.4 miles of shoreline. Hook Lake ranks 5 of 5 in McLeod County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

Hook Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2023, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The lake's fish records list 3 species — a varied community without one dominant gamefish. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.