Toad Lake
Becker County, Minnesota1,715 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Toad Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- zebra mussel
- 29 ft max depth
- Public access
Toad Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 27 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 1714.61 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 9, 2021 caught 10.33 walleye per gill net at Toad Lake. DNR survey details →
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). 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 1 public boat landing. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Toad Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing15 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 25
- Big water1,715 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyModerate 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. Toad Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Toad 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 Toad Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Toad Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus 27 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 8 µg/L. TSI 51.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 7ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 27µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 8µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 51 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Toad Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Toad Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (59°F) to its warmest (73°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 9, 2021 caught 10.33 walleye per gill net at Toad Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Toad Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is improving. 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: 2021-08-09 (Standard Survey).
12 surveys on file · most recent 2021-08-09 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 29.98 | ||
| Bluegill | 25.41 | 3–8 in 2021-08-09 | 0.17 lb |
| Yellow Bullhead | 10.76 | 8–14 in 2021-08-09 | 0.78 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 10.05 | 5–6 in 2021-08-09 | 0.13 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.
Bluegill
Yellow Bullhead
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
Lake Details
Max depth
29 ft
Average depth
21 ft
Surface area
1,715 acres
Shoreline
10.2 mi
Littoral zone
33%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
21 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,493 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Toad LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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
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Follow Toad Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2020–2024).
Water clarity
Improving5 years
Phosphorus
Stable0 µg/L/yr5 years
Chlorophyll-a
Stable-0.08 µg/L/yr5 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 25
Earliest Mar 23, 2012 · Latest May 13, 2013
Typical ice-in
Nov 14
Earliest Nov 8, 2003 · Latest Dec 12, 2001
Most recent ice-out
Apr 5
2021
20 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
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
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN03-0107-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Toad Lake
Where is Toad Lake?
- Toad Lake is a lake in Becker County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Toad Lake?
- Toad Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Toad Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Toad Lake?
- Toad Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in September, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Toad Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 9, 2021 caught 10.33 walleye per gill net at Toad Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Toad Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Toad Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Toad Lake?
- Toad Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. 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 Toad 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 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 readings
Lakes in the Red River of the North Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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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)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate