Stark Lake
Stark Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 66 ft. Surface area: 217.29 acres.
- Clarity
- 8 ft
- Typical in August
- 60°F
- Max depth
- 66 ft
- Area
- 217 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 10
- Open water
- 228 days
Next lake in Crow Wing County
Why Stark Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: 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 Stark Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
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.
Stark Lake is a 217-acre lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 66 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade 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 Stark Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Stark Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Stark Lake in Crow Wing 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 Stark Lake
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Water Temperature
Stark Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 59°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 60°F) and coldest in May (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 220 field readings (2010–2017) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Stark Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 66 ft |
| Surface Area | 217 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 52% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Stark LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Stark Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2016-08-02 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 42.59 | 0.17 lb |
| BNS | 6.73 | — |
| Black Crappie | 5.36 | 0.27 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.21 | 2.19 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 4.30 | 0.73 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 4.27 | 0.42 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
Black Crappie
Northern Pike
Yellow Bass
From the 2016-08-02 survey
Stark Lake is a 217 acre lake located nine miles southeast of Emily in Crow Wing County. Stark is located in the Mississippi River-Brainerd watershed. The lake has a maximum depth of 66'. A nearshore survey was conducted to assess the populations of both game and non-game fish species. Ten 100' long sampling stations…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Stark Lake. 5 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — StarkFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Stark (0227)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Stark (0396)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Stark (2039)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — StarkPublic 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 | ↓ Declining | -0.18 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (29 observations).
Estimated open water season: 228 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-14 (2024) | 2022-05-02 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2002-11-14 (2002) | 2009-12-05 (2009) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-12
Graded lakes near Stark Lake
Stark Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Crow Wing County
Frequently asked questions about Stark Lake
What is the water quality grade for Stark Lake?
- Stark Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 66 ft. Surface area: 217.29 acres.
Is Stark Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Stark 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 Stark Lake?
- Stark Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in August, from 220 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2017). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Stark Lake?
- Stark Lake has a maximum depth of 66 feet. The lake covers 217.29 acres.
What fish are in Stark Lake?
- Fish species found in Stark Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Stark Lake is located in Crow Wing County, Minnesota.
When does Stark Lake thaw?
- Stark Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 10. Ice typically forms around Nov 24. The open water season is approximately 228 days.
Are there boat ramps on Stark Lake?
- Stark Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Stark Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Stark 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 Crow Wing County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Top lakes and where to stay in the Mille Lacs Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Pine River Watersheds (Brainerd Lakes), ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Stark Lake
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Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
76 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA76 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate