Nelson Lake
Nelson Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19.5 ft. Surface area: 40.34 acres.
- Clarity
- 14.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 19.5 ft
- Area
- 40 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Hubbard County
Nelson Lake is a 40-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 20 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including bluegill, largemouth bass, and northern pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Hubbard County, Nelson Lake ranks #39 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-23. 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: 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 12 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Nelson Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Nelson 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
Nelson Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 31 field readings (2023–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Nelson Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 19.5 ft |
| Surface Area | 40 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 79% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Nelson LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Nelson Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2015-07-29 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 46.69 | 0.09 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 6.94 | 0.12 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 6.08 | 0.27 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.60 | 1.76 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 2.29 | 0.49 lb |
| Walleye | 1.32 | 3.35 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 Perch
Northern Pike
From the 2015-07-29 survey
Nelson Lake is located six miles southwest of Laporte, and is within the Paul Bunyan State Forest. Nelson has a surface area of 40 acres and a maximum depth of 19.5 feet. There is a state owned primitive campground and public access on the northeast shore of the lake. The Minnesota DNR has classified Minnesota's lakes…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Nelson Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — NelsonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Nelson (1313)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — NelsonPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
County Ranking
Ranked #39 of 68 lakes in Hubbard County
Nearby Lakes in Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Nelson Lake
What is the water quality grade for Nelson Lake?
- Nelson Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19.5 ft. Surface area: 40.34 acres.
Is Nelson Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Nelson Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Nelson Lake?
- Nelson Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 31 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Nelson Lake?
- Nelson Lake has a maximum depth of 19.5 feet. The lake covers 40.34 acres.
What fish are in Nelson Lake?
- Fish species found in Nelson Lake include bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow perch. Nelson Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Nelson Lake?
- Nelson Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Nelson Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Nelson Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
40 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA40 samples · 2023
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory