Perry Lake
Perry Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 74 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 164.2 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 70°F
- Max depth
- 23 ft
- Area
- 164 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Perry Lake →
Next lake in Crow Wing County
Perry Lake is a 164-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 23 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Crow Wing County, Perry Lake ranks #85 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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)
Murky, only visible to about 3.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 74 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 13 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 60.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 74 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 13 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Perry Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Perry 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Perry Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Perry Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Perry Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 67°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 70°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 58 field readings (2023–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Perry Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 23 ft |
| Surface Area | 164 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 80% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Perry LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Perry Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2019-06-03 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 115.62 | 0.26 lb |
| Black Crappie | 19.68 | 0.19 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 17.70 | 0.59 lb |
| Bluegill | 14.78 | 0.23 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 12.60 | 0.15 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.88 | 2.34 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
Black Crappie
Brown Bullhead
Bluegill
From the 2019-06-03 survey
After reports of a winterkill during the winter of 2018-19 a survey was conducted on Perry Lake to assess the fish community. Two standard gillnets, three standard trapnets, and two 3/8" trapnets were used. Northern pike had a gillnet CPUE of 5.0. Lengths ranged from 15.6"-24.0". Lakes in this part of the state have a…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Perry Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PerryFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Perry (0186)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PerryFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PerryPublic 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 | -0.15 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +19.25 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -9.15 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #85 of 85 lakes in Crow Wing County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Perry 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.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Crow Wing County
Frequently asked questions about Perry Lake
What is the water quality grade for Perry Lake?
- Perry Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 74 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 164.2 acres.
Is Perry 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. Perry Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 13 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Perry Lake?
- Perry Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August, from 58 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Perry Lake?
- Perry Lake has a maximum depth of 23 feet. The lake covers 164.2 acres.
What fish are in Perry Lake?
- Fish species found in Perry Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Perry Lake is located in Crow Wing County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Perry Lake?
- Perry Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Perry Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Perry Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
31 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA31 samples · 2023–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
- 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