Potato Lake
Potato Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Maximum depth: 76 ft. Surface area: 1642.56 acres.
Minnesota DNR surveys at Potato Lake average 7.69 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 11, 2022. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–18 inches. DNR survey details →
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 76 ft
- Area
- 1,643 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 25
- Open water
- 217 days
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Why Potato Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Potato Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Potato Lake is a 1,643-acre lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 76 feet (26-foot average). The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-02-23. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Potato Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples |
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.
Top-rated places to stay near Potato Lake
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Water Temperature
Potato Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in Jun (about 66°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 14 field readings (2022–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Minnesota DNR surveys at Potato Lake average 7.69 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 11, 2022. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–18 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Potato Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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 catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 28.74 | 0.14 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 25.27 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 13.12 | 0.12 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 7.69 | 1.03 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This is not a weekly bite report.
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.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —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
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 76 ft |
| Average Depth | 26 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,643 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 9.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 40% |
| Public Access | Yes |
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.
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
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
Graded lakes near Potato Lake
Potato Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Potato Lake
Where is Potato Lake?
- Potato Lake is a lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Potato Lake?
- Potato Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Maximum depth: 76 ft. Surface area: 1642.56 acres.
Is Potato Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Potato Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. 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 14 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Potato Lake?
- Potato Lake has a maximum depth of 76 feet and an average depth of 26 feet. The lake covers 1642.56 acres.
What fish are in Potato Lake?
- Fish species found in Potato Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Potato Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Potato Lake?
- Minnesota DNR surveys at Potato Lake average 7.69 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 11, 2022. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–18 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Potato Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Potato Lake thaw?
- Potato Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 25. Ice typically forms around Nov 28. The open water season is approximately 217 days.
Explore Potato Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS1 sample · 2025
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate