Hook Lake
Hook Lake in McLeod County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 329.53 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 78°F
- Max depth
- 18 ft
- Area
- 330 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in McLeod County
Why Hook 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 Hook 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.
Hook Lake is a 330-acre lake in McLeod County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 18 feet (8-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including black bullhead, northern pike, and yellow perch. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-29. 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 Hook Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Hook Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hook Lake in McLeod 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 Hook Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Hook Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 78°F) and coldest in May (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 30 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Hook Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Hook Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (691,831 cells/mL) on July 18, 2026.
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 | 18 ft |
| Average Depth | 8 ft |
| Surface Area | 330 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 98% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Bear LakePublic
- Echo LakePublic
- Hook LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Hook Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2019-04-15 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 78.76 | 0.21 lb |
| Black Crappie | 13.59 | 0.21 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 9.57 | 0.89 lb |
| Common Carp | 9.13 | 2.05 lb |
| Walleye | 8.05 | 1.27 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.98 | 0.14 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.
Black Bullhead
Black Crappie
Largemouth Bass
Common Carp
From the 2019-04-15 survey
A 2018-2019 winter oxygen test indicated potential for winterkill at Hook Lake, and dead fish (150 Black Bullhead, 10 Northern Pike, 50 Bluegill, and 10 Yellow Perch) were verified at the culvert on the lake's southern shore on 3/19/19, before full ice-out. This ice-out trap netting survey was conducted to evaluate…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hook Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HookFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — HookFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — HookPublic 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 | -0.412 m/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Hook 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 MN43-0073-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Hook Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Hutchinson Technology IncHutchinson · 3.9 mi away · NPDES MN0055506
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Graded lakes near Hook Lake
Hook Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in McLeod County
Frequently asked questions about Hook Lake
What is the water quality grade for Hook Lake?
- Hook Lake in McLeod County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 329.53 acres.
Is Hook Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Hook 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 Hook Lake?
- Hook Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August, from 30 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Hook Lake?
- Hook Lake has a maximum depth of 18 feet and an average depth of 8 feet. The lake covers 329.53 acres.
What fish are in Hook Lake?
- Fish species found in Hook Lake include black bullhead, northern pike, yellow perch. Hook Lake is located in McLeod County, Minnesota.
Does Hook Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Hook Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (691,831 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Hook Lake?
- Hook Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bear Lake, Echo Lake, Hook Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Hook Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Where this data comes from
79 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
MNPCA79 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory