Perch Lake
Perch Lake in Lincoln County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 9.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 96.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 18.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16.2 ft. Surface area: 246.1 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.3 ft
- Max depth
- 16.2 ft
- Area
- 246 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Perch Lake →
Next lake in Lincoln County
Perch Lake is a 246-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lincoln County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 16 feet (6-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2021. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Lincoln County, Perch Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-15. 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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.3 ft. Phosphorus level: 96.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 18.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 96.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 18.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Perch Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Perch Lake in Lincoln 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Perch Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Perch Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 16.2 ft |
| Average Depth | 6 ft |
| Surface Area | 246 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 73% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Oak LakePublic
- Steep Bank LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Perch Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
17 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-09-02 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| OTM | 6665.33 | — |
| OSS | 1353.16 | — |
| BLH | 416.25 | — |
| Fathead Minnow | 374.65 | 0.01 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 344.65 | 0.55 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 305.27 | 0.25 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.
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-09-02 survey
Perch Lake is located approximately 4 miles northwest of Ivanhoe in Lincoln County. It is a productive, 224-acre lake with a maximum depth of 18 feet. Perch Lake has a history of providing good walleye fishing. Numerous sizes of walleyes have been stocked over time. Many of the stockings have been evaluated with…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Perch Lake. 3 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
- —Fish Stocking History — PerchFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PerchPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Perch 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 MN41-0067-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Perch Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Gene Panka FarmCanby · 3.4 mi away · NPDES MN0071862
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Lincoln County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Perch Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Lincoln County
Frequently asked questions about Perch Lake
What is the water quality grade for Perch Lake?
- Perch Lake in Lincoln County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 9.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 96.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 18.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16.2 ft. Surface area: 246.1 acres.
Is Perch Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Perch Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 18.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Perch Lake?
- Perch Lake has a maximum depth of 16.2 feet and an average depth of 6 feet. The lake covers 246.1 acres.
What fish are in Perch Lake?
- Fish species found in Perch Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, crappie, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, sunfish, walleye, white crappie, yellow perch. Perch Lake is located in Lincoln County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Perch Lake?
- Perch Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Oak Lake, Steep Bank Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Perch Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by 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
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