Perch Lake
Perch Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 15.3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 265.91 acres.
- Clarity
- 15.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 40 ft
- Area
- 266 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 14
Next lake in Crow Wing County
Why Perch Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Perch Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Perch Lake is a 266-acre lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 40 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Perch Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 15.3 ft down. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Perch Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Perch Lake in Crow Wing 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 Perch Lake
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Water Temperature
Perch Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 11 field readings (2022–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Perch Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 40 ft |
| Surface Area | 266 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 62% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Perch LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Perch Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-06-07 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| CNM | 98.41 | — |
| Bluegill | 27.30 | 0.19 lb |
| SUN | 15.34 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 12.86 | 0.94 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 10.15 | 0.19 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 9.00 | 0.52 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
Largemouth Bass
Pumpkinseed
Yellow Bass
From the 2021-06-07 survey
Perch Lake is a 270 acre lake located inside the city limits of Baxter in Crow Wing County. A DNR owned public access is located on the south end of the lake. Perch reaches a depth of 40 feet, with 61% being 15 feet deep or less. Large beds of bulrush and water lilies surround the lakeshore. Protection of aquatic…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Perch Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PerchFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Perch (0005)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PerchFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PerchPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.203 m/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (8 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2020-04-09 (2020) | 2022-04-30 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2002-11-13 (2002) | 2006-12-01 (2006) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-04-30
EPA Impairment Status
Perch Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN18-0371-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Perch Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Brainerd WwtpBaxter · 1.5 mi away · NPDES MN0049328MajorRecent violation
- Burlington Northern-BaxterBaxter · 1.5 mi away · NPDES MN0055387
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Graded lakes near Perch Lake
Perch Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Crow Wing County
Frequently asked questions about Perch Lake
What is the water quality grade for Perch Lake?
- Perch Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 15.3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 265.91 acres.
Is Perch Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Perch Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Perch Lake?
- Perch Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 11 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Perch Lake?
- Perch Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet. The lake covers 265.91 acres.
What fish are in Perch Lake?
- Fish species found in Perch Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Perch Lake is located in Crow Wing County, Minnesota.
When does Perch Lake thaw?
- Perch Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 14.
Are there boat ramps on Perch Lake?
- Perch Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Perch Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
11 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2022–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA11 samples · 2022–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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