Potato Lake
Potato Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 87 ft. Surface area: 2096.09 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 87 ft
- Area
- 2,096 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 21
- Open water
- 220 days
Next lake in Hubbard County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Potato Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 80 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Potato Lake is a 2,096-acre mesotrophic lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 87 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Hubbard County, Potato Lake ranks #21 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 onlyLow algae
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)
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Potato Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Potato Lake in Hubbard 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
Potato Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 67°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 73°F) and coldest in May (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 138 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Potato Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 87 ft |
| Surface Area | 2,096 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 14.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 20% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Potato LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Potato 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
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-18 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 21.09 | — |
| MTS | 19.39 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 17.12 | 0.11 lb |
| BNS | 17.12 | — |
| BCS | 8.99 | — |
| MMS | 8.75 | — |
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.
Bluntnose Minnow
Yellow Perch
From the 2022-07-18 survey
Potato Lake is located seven miles north of Park Rapids in Hubbard County. Potato has a surface area of 2,096 acres and a maximum depth of 87 feet. A state-owned public access is located on the north shore and a county-owned access is located on the west "arm" of the lake. Boating access with small craft is also…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Potato Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PotatoFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Potato (1284)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PotatoFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PotatoPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.008 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.23 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.03 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (45 observations).
Estimated open water season: 220 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-26 (2012) | 2013-05-13 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-15 (2017) | 2001-12-20 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-04-06
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Potato Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Potato Lake (completed 1939), built primarily for recreation on the Fish Hook River; gravity-type dam, 9 ft tall and 55 ft long.
- Surface area
- 2,100 ac
- Normal storage
- 82,160 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 90,376 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 216.7 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00186 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Potato 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 MN29-0243-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #21 of 68 lakes in Hubbard County
Nearby Lakes in Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Potato Lake
What is the water quality grade for Potato Lake?
- Potato Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 87 ft. Surface area: 2096.09 acres.
Is Potato Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Potato Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Potato Lake?
- Potato Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 138 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Potato Lake?
- Potato Lake has a maximum depth of 87 feet. The lake covers 2096.09 acres.
What fish are in Potato Lake?
- Fish species found in Potato Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Potato Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
When does Potato Lake thaw?
- Potato Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 21. Ice typically forms around Nov 27. The open water season is approximately 220 days.
Are there boat ramps on Potato Lake?
- Potato Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Potato Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Potato 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 Hubbard County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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Where this data comes from
264 measurements from 5 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA264 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 (5)
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
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