Pocket Lake
Pocket Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 263.44 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 40 ft
- Area
- 263 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 15
- Open water
- 229 days
Next lake in Douglas County
Pocket Lake is a 263-acre mesotrophic lake in Douglas County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 40 feet (15-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 36 other monitored lakes in Douglas County, Pocket Lake ranks #29 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 25 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Pocket Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pocket Lake in Douglas 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
Pocket Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°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 52 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pocket Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 40 ft |
| Average Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 263 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 42% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Pocket LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Pocket Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-05 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Fathead Minnow | 155.09 | — |
| SUN | 98.55 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 29.25 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 23.03 | 0.14 lb |
| Bluegill | 22.73 | 0.19 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 16.45 | 1.08 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.
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
From the 2022-07-05 survey
Pocket Lake is a 263-acre relatively shallow, productive basin located in southcentral Douglas County within the Long Prairie watershed. Mean and maximum depths are 15 and 40 feet, respectively. This lake is not highly developed and recreational pressure is minimal. A public access is located on the southwest…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Pocket Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PocketFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Pocket (1066)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PocketFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PocketPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.104 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.93 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.76 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (17 observations).
Estimated open water season: 229 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-22 (2016) | 2013-05-08 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2007-11-26 (2007) | 2016-12-08 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-04-25
County Ranking
Ranked #29 of 37 lakes in Douglas County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Pocket Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Pocket Lake
What is the water quality grade for Pocket Lake?
- Pocket Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 263.44 acres.
Is Pocket Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Pocket Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Pocket Lake?
- Pocket Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 52 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Pocket Lake?
- Pocket Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet and an average depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 263.44 acres.
What fish are in Pocket Lake?
- Fish species found in Pocket Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Pocket Lake is located in Douglas County, Minnesota.
When does Pocket Lake thaw?
- Pocket Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 15. Ice typically forms around Nov 30. The open water season is approximately 229 days.
Are there boat ramps on Pocket Lake?
- Pocket Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pocket Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Pocket Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Douglas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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State Parks Near Pocket Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
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Where this data comes from
102 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA102 samples · 2020–2025
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate