Hunter Lake
Hunter Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 31 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 48 ft. Surface area: 181.82 acres.
- Clarity
- 31 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 48 ft
- Area
- 182 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 22
- Open water
- 223 days
Next lake in Cass County
Hunter Lake is a 182-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Cass County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 48 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 103 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Hunter Lake ranks #47 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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)
Crystal clear, you can see 31 ft down. Phosphorus level: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 34.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 31 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.7 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 34 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Hunter Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hunter Lake in Cass 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.
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Water Temperature
Hunter Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 27 field readings (2018–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Hunter Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 48 ft |
| Surface Area | 182 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 29% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Little Boy LakePublic
- Little Boy Resort & CampgroundSemi-private
Fishing Hunter Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1987-08-31 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 11.12 | 0.17 lb |
| Rock Bass | 8.06 | 0.31 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 4.25 | 0.27 lb |
| White Sucker | 4.25 | 2.51 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 3.60 | 1.02 lb |
| Northern Pike | 1.25 | 5.9 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1987-08-31 survey
Numbers/Set (Lbs./fish) NOP BLG SMB LMB WAE1987 1.0(9.7) 6.1(0.19) 8.7(1.8) 1.3(0.72) 1.7(5.4)1969 1.5(2.1) 36.0(0.20) 1.5(0.73) 1.5(0.48) 1.0(10.5)Northern Pike - Gillnet catches indicate a low population of large fish. No year classes beyond 1979 were present indicating limited natural reproduction.Bluegill -…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hunter Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HunterFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -1.173 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.41 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.51 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (21 observations).
Estimated open water season: 223 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-04-05 (2000) | 2022-05-08 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2014-11-12 (2014) | 2021-12-26 (2021) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-05-08
EPA Impairment Status
Hunter 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 MN11-0171-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.28 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #47 of 104 lakes in Cass County
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Hunter Lake
What is the water quality grade for Hunter Lake?
- Hunter Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 31 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 48 ft. Surface area: 181.82 acres.
Is Hunter Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Hunter Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 1.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Hunter Lake?
- Hunter Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 27 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2018–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Hunter Lake?
- Hunter Lake has a maximum depth of 48 feet. The lake covers 181.82 acres.
When does Hunter Lake thaw?
- Hunter Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 22. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 223 days.
Are there boat ramps on Hunter Lake?
- Hunter Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Little Boy Lake, Little Boy Resort & Campground. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Hunter Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
51 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA51 samples · 2020–2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate