Mow Lake
Mow Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 106.24 acres.
- Clarity
- 14.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 69°F
- Max depth
- 34 ft
- Area
- 106 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Hubbard County
Mow Lake is a 106-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 34 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Hubbard County, Mow Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-10-02. 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)
Good clarity, visible to about 14.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 9 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Mow Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mow Lake in Hubbard 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
Mow Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 71°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 53 field readings (2011–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Mow Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 34 ft |
| Surface Area | 106 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 56% |
| 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 Mow Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2005-06-06 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 28.87 | 0.15 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 7.72 | 0.21 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 6.33 | 0.52 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.27 | 1.47 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 2.36 | 0.15 lb |
| Walleye | 1.78 | 3.22 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.
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
Yellow Bass
Northern Pike
From the 2005-06-06 survey
Mow Lake is located in Hubbard County, ten miles south of Akeley. Mow Lake has a surface area of 100 acres and a maximum depth of 34 feet. A carry-in public access is located on the south shore of the lake. Mow Lake provides fishing opportunities for northern pike, largemouth bass, panfish, and an occasional…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Mow Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MowFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Mow (1261)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MowPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.61 m/yr | 3 |
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 68 lakes in Hubbard County
Nearby Lakes in Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Mow Lake
What is the water quality grade for Mow Lake?
- Mow Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 106.24 acres.
Is Mow Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Mow Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Mow Lake?
- Mow Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August, from 53 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Mow Lake?
- Mow Lake has a maximum depth of 34 feet. The lake covers 106.24 acres.
What fish are in Mow Lake?
- Fish species found in Mow Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Mow Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
34 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA34 samples · 2020–2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder