Hoot Owl Lake
Hoot Owl Lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 78 ft. Surface area: 83.58 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.1 ft
- Max depth
- 78 ft
- Area
- 84 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Clearwater County
Hoot Owl Lake is a 84-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 78 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 36 other monitored lakes in Clearwater County, Hoot Owl Lake ranks #21 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Hoot Owl Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 10.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Hoot Owl Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hoot Owl Lake in Clearwater 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 Hoot Owl Lake
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 78 ft |
| Surface Area | 84 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 44% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Hoot Owl ResortSemi-private
Fishing Hoot Owl Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1987-06-17 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 165.72 | 0.12 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 14.28 | 0.17 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 8.22 | 0.22 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 7.61 | 0.12 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.96 | 0.97 lb |
| Rock Bass | 4.39 | 0.33 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1987-06-17 survey
FISH POPULATION APPEARS DOMIANTED BY SMALL NORTH- ERN PIKE AND SMALL BLUEGILL. MOST PIKE CAUGHT IN GILLNETS WERE 20 INCHES. GILLNET INDEX FOR YELLOW PERCH WAS 1/3 THE LOCAL MEAN. GILLNET INDEX FOR WALLEYE WAS CONSIDERABLY LOWER THAN STATE OR LOCAL MEDIAN AND INDEX IN 1983. YOY NORTHERN PIKE, BLUEGILL, AND LARGEMOUTH…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hoot Owl Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Hoot OwlFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
County Ranking
Ranked #21 of 37 lakes in Clearwater County
Nearby Lakes in Clearwater County
Frequently asked questions about Hoot Owl Lake
What is the water quality grade for Hoot Owl Lake?
- Hoot Owl Lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 78 ft. Surface area: 83.58 acres.
Is Hoot Owl Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Hoot Owl Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Hoot Owl Lake?
- Hoot Owl Lake has a maximum depth of 78 feet. The lake covers 83.58 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Hoot Owl Lake?
- Hoot Owl Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Hoot Owl Resort. Public access is listed as no on the lake record, so confirm the landing before you trailer a boat.
Explore Hoot Owl Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Clearwater County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Hoot Owl Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
46 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (White Earth Band) (Tribal)
WEARTH_WQX46 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory