Poplar Lake
Poplar Lake in Polk County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 90.47 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.9 ft
- Max depth
- 23 ft
- Area
- 90 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Polk County
Poplar Lake is a 90-acre mesotrophic lake in Polk County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 23 feet (15-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2020. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Polk County, Poplar Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-15. 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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 23 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Poplar Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Poplar Lake in Polk 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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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 23 ft |
| Average Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 90 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 43% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Poplar Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-07 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 114.53 | 0.18 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 22.55 | 0.17 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 7.10 | 0.37 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.14 | 1.3 lb |
| Bluegill | 4.29 | 0.38 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.00 | 0.09 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
Brown Bullhead
Northern Pike
From the 2025-07-07 survey
Poplar Lake is a 75-acre, class 33 lake located in southeastern Polk County approximately four miles southeast of Fosston. The maximum depth is 23 feet. This lake experiences low oxygen levels during severe winters and has suffered winterkills of varying degrees on a number of occasions. However, Poplar Lake has not…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Poplar Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PoplarFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PoplarFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 19 lakes in Polk County
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Poplar Lake
What is the water quality grade for Poplar Lake?
- Poplar Lake in Polk County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 90.47 acres.
Is Poplar Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Poplar Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Poplar Lake?
- Poplar Lake has a maximum depth of 23 feet and an average depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 90.47 acres.
What fish are in Poplar Lake?
- Fish species found in Poplar Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Poplar Lake is located in Polk County, Minnesota.
Explore Poplar Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
14 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA14 samples · 2020
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