Hungry Jack Lake
Hungry Jack Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 18 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 71 ft. Surface area: 474.28 acres.
- Clarity
- 18 ft
- Typical in August
- 64°F
- Max depth
- 71 ft
- Area
- 474 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- May 5
- Open water
- 204 days
Next lake in Cook County
Hungry Jack Lake is a 474-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 71 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including bluegill, green sunfish, and hybrid sunfish. Public access is available. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Cook County, Hungry Jack Lake ranks #14 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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)
Crystal clear, you can see 18 ft down. Phosphorus level: 7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 35.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 18 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 7 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 35 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Hungry Jack Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hungry Jack Lake in Cook 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 Hungry Jack Lake
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Water Temperature
Hungry Jack Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 62°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 64°F) and coldest in May (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 154 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Hungry Jack Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 71 ft |
| Surface Area | 474 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 8.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 39% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Hungry Jack Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
15 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2020-06-29 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| RBS | 5.17 | 0.06 lb |
| Bluegill | 5.12 | 0.12 lb |
| CNM | 4.60 | — |
| Green Sunfish | 4.00 | 0.08 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.08 | 0.17 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 2.28 | 1.09 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.
RBS
Bluegill
Green Sunfish
Yellow Perch
From the 2020-06-29 survey
Hungry Jack Lake is part of a cluster of medium sized easily-accessed lakes about 30 road miles from Grand Marais. It is a moderately developed lake, with two resorts and several cabins on its shores. The lake lacks a public boat launch; public access is limited to a carry-down trail. Nevertheless, use of this lake by…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hungry Jack Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Hungry JackFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Hungry Jack (1827)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Hungry JackFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Hungry JackPublic 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 | → Stable | -0.031 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.17 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.1 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (24 observations).
Estimated open water season: 204 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-28 (2012) | 2023-05-13 (2023) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-11 (2018) | 2024-12-06 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-04-18
EPA Impairment Status
Hungry Jack 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 MN16-0227-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #14 of 44 lakes in Cook County
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Hungry Jack Lake
What is the water quality grade for Hungry Jack Lake?
- Hungry Jack Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 18 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 71 ft. Surface area: 474.28 acres.
Is Hungry Jack Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Hungry Jack Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Hungry Jack Lake?
- Hungry Jack Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August, from 154 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Hungry Jack Lake?
- Hungry Jack Lake has a maximum depth of 71 feet. The lake covers 474.28 acres.
What fish are in Hungry Jack Lake?
- Fish species found in Hungry Jack Lake include bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, rainbow smelt, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Hungry Jack Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.
When does Hungry Jack Lake thaw?
- Hungry Jack Lake typically has ice-out around May 5. Ice typically forms around Nov 25. The open water season is approximately 204 days.
Explore Hungry Jack Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Cook County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
165 measurements from 4 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA165 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 (4)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate