Walker Brook Lake
Walker Brook Lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 45 ft. Surface area: 95.24 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.1 ft
- Max depth
- 45 ft
- Area
- 95 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 17
- Open water
- 222 days
Next lake in Clearwater County
Walker Brook Lake is a 95-acre mesotrophic lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 45 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and hybrid sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 36 other monitored lakes in Clearwater County, Walker Brook Lake ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-08. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 11.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Walker Brook Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 45 ft |
| Surface Area | 95 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 27% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Walker Brook LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Walker Brook Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-23 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 26.78 | 0.16 lb |
| Bluegill | 12.32 | 0.22 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 12.27 | 0.11 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 7.13 | 1.18 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.33 | 2.77 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 3.72 | 0.29 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.
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Green Sunfish
Largemouth Bass
From the 2025-06-23 survey
Walker Brook Lake is a 95-acre lake with a maximum depth of 45 feet located 7 miles southeast of Bagley in central Clearwater County. There is a state public water access with an earthen ramp and parking for 5 vehicles/trailers located on the west side of the lake off of County Road 96. The shoreline of the lake is…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Walker Brook Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Walker BrookFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Walker Brook (1696)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Walker BrookFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Walker BrookPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.336 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.03 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.1 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (14 observations).
Estimated open water season: 222 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2005-04-11 (2005) | 2022-05-07 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-08 (2003) | 2001-12-06 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-05-07
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 37 lakes in Clearwater County
Nearby Lakes in Clearwater County
Frequently asked questions about Walker Brook Lake
What is the water quality grade for Walker Brook Lake?
- Walker Brook Lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 45 ft. Surface area: 95.24 acres.
Is Walker Brook Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Walker Brook Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Walker Brook Lake?
- Walker Brook Lake has a maximum depth of 45 feet. The lake covers 95.24 acres.
What fish are in Walker Brook Lake?
- Fish species found in Walker Brook Lake include black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Walker Brook Lake is located in Clearwater County, Minnesota.
When does Walker Brook Lake thaw?
- Walker Brook Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 17. Ice typically forms around Nov 25. The open water season is approximately 222 days.
Are there boat ramps on Walker Brook Lake?
- Walker Brook Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Walker Brook Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
110 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
MNPCA110 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)
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