Sixth Crow Wing Lake
Sixth Crow Wing Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 345.63 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 67°F
- Max depth
- 40 ft
- Area
- 346 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 15
- Open water
- 221 days
Next lake in Hubbard County
Sixth Crow Wing Lake is a 346-acre mesotrophic lake in Hubbard 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 67 other monitored lakes in Hubbard County, Sixth Crow Wing Lake ranks #66 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 8.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 10.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.7 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Sixth Crow Wing Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sixth Crow Wing 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
Sixth Crow Wing Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 79 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sixth Crow Wing Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 40 ft |
| Average Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 346 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.8 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 46% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- 6th Crow Wing LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Sixth Crow Wing Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-12 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 22.02 | 0.13 lb |
| BCS | 15.50 | — |
| Bluegill | 15.08 | 0.18 lb |
| IOD | 10.75 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 8.35 | 1.03 lb |
| CNM | 5.91 | — |
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 2024-08-12 survey
Sixth Crow Wing Lake is located two miles southwest of Nevis in southern Hubbard County. Sixth Crow Wing is part of a chain of lakes running from Eleventh Crow Wing Lake at the headwaters, down to First Crow Wing Lake. Sixth Crow Wing Lake has a surface area of 340 acres and a maximum depth of 40 feet. A DNR-owned…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Sixth Crow Wing Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Sixth Crow WingFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Sixth Crow Wing (1291)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Sixth Crow WingFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Sixth Crow WingPublic 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 | → Stable | -0.024 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.14 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.75 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (12 observations).
Estimated open water season: 221 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2015-04-12 (2015) | 2004-04-17 (2004) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-08 (2003) | 2001-12-02 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2015-04-12
EPA Impairment Status
Sixth Crow Wing 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 MN29-0093-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #66 of 68 lakes in Hubbard County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Sixth Crow Wing Lake holds Grade C. 2 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 Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Sixth Crow Wing Lake
What is the water quality grade for Sixth Crow Wing Lake?
- Sixth Crow Wing Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 345.63 acres.
Is Sixth Crow Wing Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Sixth Crow Wing Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 10.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Sixth Crow Wing Lake?
- Sixth Crow Wing Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August, from 79 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Sixth Crow Wing Lake?
- Sixth Crow Wing Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet and an average depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 345.63 acres.
What fish are in Sixth Crow Wing Lake?
- Fish species found in Sixth Crow Wing Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Sixth Crow Wing Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
When does Sixth Crow Wing Lake thaw?
- Sixth Crow Wing Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 15. Ice typically forms around Nov 22. The open water season is approximately 221 days.
Are there boat ramps on Sixth Crow Wing Lake?
- Sixth Crow Wing Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include 6th Crow Wing Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Sixth Crow Wing Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
81 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
MNPCA81 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
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