Third Crow Wing Lake
Hubbard County, Minnesota643 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Third Crow Wing Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 35 ft max depth
- Public access
Third Crow Wing Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 643.4 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 22, 2024 caught 2.44 walleye per gill net at Third Crow Wing Lake. DNR survey details →
Third Crow Wing Lake is a 643-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 35 feet (12-foot average). Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 18 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Hubbard County, Third Crow Wing Lake ranks #56 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Third Crow Wing Lake covers about 640 acres in Hubbard County. The median ice-out date is April 18, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Third Crow Wing Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Third Crow Wing Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing18 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 18
- Deep water35 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Third Crow Wing Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Third Crow Wing Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Third Crow Wing Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Third Crow Wing Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 7.4 µg/L. TSI 54.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 21µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 7.4µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 54 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Third Crow Wing Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Third Crow Wing Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (128,233 cells/mL) on November 22, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 22, 2024 caught 2.44 walleye per gill net at Third Crow Wing Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Third Crow Wing Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-01 (Targeted Survey).
14 surveys on file · most recent 2025-08-01 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 24.54 | 5–6 in 2024-07-22 | 0.09 lb |
| Bluegill | 10.24 | 3–8 in 2024-07-22 | 0.18 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 7.57 | ||
| Largemouth Bass | 6.86 | 5–14 in 2024-07-22 | 1.14 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and 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.
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
From the 2025-08-01 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Third Crow Wing Lake on August 1st, 2025. This was done to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Third 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 — Third Crow WingFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Third Crow Wing (1292)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Third Crow WingFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Third Crow WingPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
35 ft
Average depth
12 ft
Surface area
643 acres
Shoreline
7.2 mi
Littoral zone
57%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
218 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,355 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Third Crow Wing Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Third 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Third Crow Wing Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Third Crow Wing Lake
- → Third Crow Wing Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Third Crow Wing Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Third Crow Wing Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Third Crow Wing Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
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: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+0.77 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+1.26 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 18
Earliest Mar 15, 2024 · Latest May 7, 2022
Typical ice-in
Nov 25
Earliest Nov 1, 2006 · Latest Nov 30, 2015
Most recent ice-out
Mar 15
2024
16 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Third 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
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN29-0077-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Third Crow Wing Lake
Where is Third Crow Wing Lake?
- Third Crow Wing Lake is a lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Third Crow Wing Lake?
- Third Crow Wing Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 643.4 acres.
Is Third Crow Wing Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Third Crow Wing Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Third Crow Wing Lake?
- Third Crow Wing Lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet and an average depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 643.4 acres.
What fish are in Third Crow Wing Lake?
- Fish species found in Third Crow Wing Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, greater redhorse, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, river redhorse, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Third Crow Wing Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Third Crow Wing Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 22, 2024 caught 2.44 walleye per gill net at Third Crow Wing Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Third Crow Wing Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Third Crow Wing Lake thaw?
- Third Crow Wing Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 18. Ice typically forms around Nov 25. The open water season is approximately 221 days.
Does Third Crow Wing Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Third Crow Wing Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (128,233 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Can I fish at Third Crow Wing Lake?
- Public access to Third Crow Wing Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Third Crow Wing Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Hubbard County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Park Rapids Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Compare Third Crow Wing Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
136 measurements from 2 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
MNPCA136 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 (2)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate