Hubert Lake
Crow Wing County, MinnesotaOligotrophic
Hubert Lake sits at the top of the Minnesota PCA grading rubric with an A, a mark reached by the cleanest lakes in Minnesota. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.
Trophically, Hubert Lake reads as oligotrophic — nutrient-poor, clear, and ecologically more sensitive to disturbance than richer lakes. The lake's 83 ft maximum depth is in the upper tier for Minnesota — deep enough for cold-water fish to find refuge in summer. Hubert Lake covers 1,301 acres alongside 6.0 miles of shoreline, large enough that conditions can vary meaningfully between bays. Among the 120 graded lakes in Crow Wing County, Hubert Lake sits at rank 44, above the county median.
Zebra mussels have been documented at Hubert Lake, which alters the filter-feeding balance and can paradoxically increase water clarity while disrupting the food web. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 16 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. A documented public access point at Hubert Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Ice-out has been logged at Hubert Lake more than two dozen times, putting the median around Apr 22 — a useful baseline for tracking climate trends. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-01. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 17 ft down. Phosphorus level: 13 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 17 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | 13 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 83 ft |
| Surface Area | 1.3K acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 36% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Hubert Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Hubert Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Hubert Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Invasive Species
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.104 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.45 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (96 observations).
Estimated open water season: 222 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-15 (2024) | 2022-05-06 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2002-11-25 (2002) | 2001-12-18 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-03-15
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #44 of 120 lakes in Crow Wing County
Nearby Lakes in Crow Wing County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Hubert Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-11 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 74.45 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 22.44 | 0.79 lb |
| Bluegill | 18.88 | 0.15 lb |
| BKF | 14.66 | — |
| IOD | 8.58 | — |
| Walleye | 6.75 | 2.2 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Walleye
From the 2025-08-11 survey
Hubert Lake is a 1,301-acre lake near the city of Nisswa in Crow Wing County. A DNR administered public access is located on the west side of the lake off Camp Lincoln Road. Smallmouth Bass and Black Crappie are the primary management species. A special regulation calls for all Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass 12…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hubert Lake. 4 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HubertFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Hubert (0445)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — HubertFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — HubertPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2024-10-01
Monitoring stations: 1