Toad Lake
Toad Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 27 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 1714.61 acres.
- Clarity
- 7 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 29 ft
- Area
- 1,715 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 25
- Open water
- 203 days
Next lake in Becker County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Toad Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 25 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Toad Lake is a 1,715-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 29 feet (21-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 15 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Toad Lake ranks #62 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Toad Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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 7 ft. Phosphorus level: 27 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 27 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Toad Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Toad Lake in Becker 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 Toad Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Toad Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 73°F) and coldest in May (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 45 field readings (2022–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Toad Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft |
| Average Depth | 21 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,715 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 10.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 33% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Toad LakePublic
- Sivertson LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Toad 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-08-09 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| MMS | 195.50 | — |
| CSH | 42.86 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 29.98 | — |
| Bluegill | 25.41 | 0.17 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 10.76 | 0.78 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 10.05 | 0.13 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 Bass
Yellow Perch
From the 2021-08-09 survey
Toad (also referred to as Big Toad) Lake is a 1,715-acre lake located in central Becker County, 21 miles east of the city of Detroit Lakes. The shoreline of the lake is moderately developed, primarily along its northern and southwestern shores. The Toad Lake Aquatic Management Area (AMA) protects 115.1 acres of land…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Toad Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ToadFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Toad (1000)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ToadFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ToadPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.13 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.08 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (20 observations).
Estimated open water season: 203 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-23 (2012) | 2013-05-13 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-08 (2003) | 2001-12-12 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2021-04-05
EPA Impairment Status
Toad 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 MN03-0107-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #62 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Toad Lake holds Grade C. 3 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 Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Toad Lake
What is the water quality grade for Toad Lake?
- Toad Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 27 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 1714.61 acres.
Is Toad Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Toad Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Toad Lake?
- Toad Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 45 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Toad Lake?
- Toad Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet and an average depth of 21 feet. The lake covers 1714.61 acres.
What fish are in Toad Lake?
- Fish species found in Toad Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Toad Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
When does Toad Lake thaw?
- Toad Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 25. Ice typically forms around Nov 14. The open water season is approximately 203 days.
Are there boat ramps on Toad Lake?
- Toad Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Toad Lake, Sivertson Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Toad 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 Becker County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Detroit Lakes Area area
Top lakes and where to stay in the Park Rapids Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Red River of the North Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Toad Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
230 measurements from 3 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
MNPCA229 samples · 2020–2024 - Minnesota Department of Agriculture - Pesticide Monitoring
MNDA_PESTICIDE1 sample · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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