Potato Lake
Hubbard County, MinnesotaLimited DataOligotrophic
Potato Lake earns an A — water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate among the best monitored waters in Hubbard County. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.
The lake's low TSI puts it in oligotrophic territory — the cleanest of the four trophic classes, but also the most vulnerable to nutrient-driven shifts. Potato Lake is unusually deep for Minnesota at 76 ft, which buffers the lake against summer warming and helps the deep water stay oxygenated. Potato Lake covers 1,643 acres alongside 9.1 miles of shoreline, large enough that conditions can vary meaningfully between bays. Among the 77 graded lakes in Hubbard County, Potato Lake sits at rank 29, above the county median.
Potato Lake is on the Minnesota infested-waters list for zebra mussels — boaters should follow clean-drain-dry protocols when moving gear to or from the lake. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 14 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. A documented public access point at Potato Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The lake has a partial ice record — 23 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 25. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-02-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 23 ft down. Trophic State Index: 32.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 23 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 32 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 76 ft |
| Average Depth | 26 ft |
| Surface Area | 1.6K acres |
| Shoreline Length | 9.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 40% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Potato Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Potato Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Potato Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Invasive Species
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | 0 m/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (35 observations).
Estimated open water season: 217 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-17 (2024) | 2013-05-11 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-20 (2018) | 2015-12-19 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-17
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #29 of 77 lakes in Hubbard County
Nearby Lakes in Hubbard County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Potato Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-11 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 28.74 | 0.14 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 25.27 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 13.12 | 0.12 lb |
| CNM | 10.25 | — |
| BCS | 7.90 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 7.69 | 1.03 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.
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
From the 2022-07-11 survey
Fish Hook Lake is located two miles north of Park Rapids in west-central Hubbard County. Fish Hook has a surface area of 1,643 acres and a maximum depth of 76 feet. A DNR owned public access is located on the west shore of the lake off US-71. Access is also available from the Fish Hook River, with a county access in…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Potato Lake. 4 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Fish HookFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Fish Hook (1285)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Fish HookFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Fish HookPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2025-02-23
Monitoring stations: 1