Whaletail Lake
Hennepin County, Minnesota510 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Whaletail Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- 22 ft max depth
- Public access
Whaletail Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 45.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 510.03 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 26, 2021 caught 9.00 northern pike per gill net at Whaletail Lake. DNR survey details →
Whaletail Lake is a 510-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 22 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Whaletail Lake ranks #29 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-07. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Whaletail Lake covers about 510 acres in Hennepin County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 8, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Whaletail Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Whaletail Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing13 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 8
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
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. Whaletail Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Whaletail 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 Whaletail Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Whaletail 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 3.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 45.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 19.4 µg/L. TSI 60.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3.3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 45.8µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 19.4µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 60 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Whaletail Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Whaletail Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 72°F) and coldest in Apr (about 48°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (48°F) to its warmest (72°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,382 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Whaletail Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 26, 2021 caught 9.00 northern pike per gill net at Whaletail Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Whaletail 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
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-07-26 (Standard Survey).
9 surveys on file · most recent 2021-07-26 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Crappie | 45.96 | 4–9 in 2021-07-26 | 0.16 lb |
| Bluegill | 20.04 | 3–8 in 2021-07-26 | 0.15 lb |
| White Crappie | 12.45 | 5–9 in 2021-07-26 | 0.21 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 8.26 | 5–7 in 2021-07-26 | 0.11 lb |
| Yellow Bullhead | 4.84 | 7–13 in 2021-07-26 | 0.78 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 3.37 | 11–14 in 2021-07-26 | 0.83 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.
Black Crappie
Bluegill
White Crappie
Yellow Perch
From the 2021-07-26 survey
Whaletail Lake is 510-acres (469 littoral acres) with a maximum depth of 22 feet. Whaletail is located northeast of St. Bonifacious in southwestern Hennepin County. Public water access is provided by DNR Parks and Trails on the northwest side of the lake off of County road 92 and West Highland road (up to 16…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Whaletail Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WhaletailFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WhaletailPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
22 ft
Surface area
510 acres
Shoreline
6.9 mi
Littoral zone
92%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
2 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
935 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Whaletail 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 Whaletail Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Whaletail Lake in Hennepin 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Whaletail Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Whaletail Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
Follow Whaletail Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Whaletail 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
Improving-1.52 µg/L/yr4 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-1.98 µg/L/yr4 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 8
Earliest Mar 3, 2024 · Latest May 1, 2018
Typical ice-in
Nov 30
Earliest Nov 15, 1997 · Latest Dec 14, 1999
Most recent ice-out
Mar 3
2024
13 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Whaletail 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, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN27-0184-02 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Whaletail Lake
Where is Whaletail Lake?
- Whaletail Lake is a lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Whaletail Lake?
- Whaletail Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 45.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 510.03 acres.
Is Whaletail Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Whaletail Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Whaletail Lake?
- Whaletail Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in October, from 1,382 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Whaletail Lake?
- Whaletail Lake has a maximum depth of 22 feet. The lake covers 510.03 acres.
What fish are in Whaletail Lake?
- Fish species found in Whaletail Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, white crappie, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Whaletail Lake is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Whaletail Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 26, 2021 caught 9.00 northern pike per gill net at Whaletail Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Whaletail 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 Whaletail Lake thaw?
- Whaletail Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 8. Ice typically forms around Nov 30. The open water season is approximately 236 days.
Are there boat ramps on Whaletail Lake?
- Whaletail Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Whaletail Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Whaletail Lake?
- Whaletail 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 Whaletail Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Hennepin County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
514 measurements from 2 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
MNPCA514 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 4500 N C ~ Persufate Method for Total Nitrogen
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate