Waboose Lake
Waboose Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 20 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 231.78 acres.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 14 ft
- Area
- 232 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Waboose Lake →
Next lake in Becker County
Waboose Lake is a 232-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 14 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 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, Waboose Lake ranks #75 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-25. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 20 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 35 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 20 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Waboose Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Waboose 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Waboose Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Waboose Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Waboose Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Sep (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 71 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Waboose Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 14 ft |
| Surface Area | 232 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Waboose LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Waboose Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-05-11 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Crappie | 29.95 | 0.36 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 28.79 | 0.16 lb |
| Bluegill | 18.46 | 0.39 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 13.61 | 0.37 lb |
| Northern Pike | 10.64 | 1.85 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 9.49 | 0.8 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.
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
From the 2023-05-11 survey
Waboose Lake is a 232-acre lake located in north central Becker County within the upper reaches of the Otter Tail River watershed. It lies entirely within the boundaries of both the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge and the White Earth Indian Reservation. The lake's shallow, eutrophic nature makes it susceptible to…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Waboose Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WabooseFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Waboose (1210)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — WabooseFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WaboosePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.01 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.35 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.75 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Waboose Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Dry Lake (completed 1930), built primarily for fish and wildlife pond on the Egg River; earth-type dam, 8 ft tall and 10 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 150 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 715 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1.4 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- USFWS
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00631 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.64 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #75 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Waboose Lake holds Grade D. 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 Waboose Lake
What is the water quality grade for Waboose Lake?
- Waboose Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 20 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 231.78 acres.
Is Waboose Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Waboose Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 20 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Waboose Lake?
- Waboose Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 71 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Waboose Lake?
- Waboose Lake has a maximum depth of 14 feet. The lake covers 231.78 acres.
What fish are in Waboose Lake?
- Fish species found in Waboose Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Waboose Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Waboose Lake?
- Waboose Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Waboose Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Waboose Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
84 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2022–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA56 samples · 2022–2025 - Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (White Earth Band) (Tribal)
WEARTH_WQX28 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity, Nephelometric Method
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory