Whiskey Lake
Whiskey Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 18.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 46 ft. Surface area: 159.52 acres.
- Clarity
- 18.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Max depth
- 46 ft
- Area
- 160 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Douglas County
Why Whiskey Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Whiskey Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Whiskey Lake is a 160-acre lake in Douglas County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 46 feet (12-foot average). The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Whiskey Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 18.8 ft down. Trophic State Index: 35.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 18.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 35 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Whiskey Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Whiskey Lake in Douglas 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 Whiskey Lake
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Water Temperature
Whiskey Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Sep (about 68°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 27 field readings (2022–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Whiskey Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 46 ft |
| Average Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 160 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 46% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Whiskey LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Whiskey 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: 2021-07-19 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 28.72 | 1.28 lb |
| Bluegill | 24.49 | 0.2 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 23.31 | 0.29 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 22.81 | 1.14 lb |
| IOD | 14.47 | — |
| Black Crappie | 13.02 | 0.34 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Black Bullhead
From the 2021-07-19 survey
Whiskey Lake is a relatively small (158 acres), lightly developed basin located two miles northeast of Brandon in Douglas County. The lake has a maximum depth of 46 feet. Nearly half of the lake area is less than 15 feet deep. Water quality in Whiskey Lake has improved over the past two decades. The lake received…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Whiskey Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WhiskeyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Whiskey (1072)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — WhiskeyFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WhiskeyPublic 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 | → Stable | -0.091 m/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Whiskey 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 MN21-0216-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Whiskey Lake
Whiskey Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Whiskey Lake
What is the water quality grade for Whiskey Lake?
- Whiskey Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 18.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 46 ft. Surface area: 159.52 acres.
Is Whiskey Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Whiskey Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Whiskey Lake?
- Whiskey Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 27 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Whiskey Lake?
- Whiskey Lake has a maximum depth of 46 feet and an average depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 159.52 acres.
What fish are in Whiskey Lake?
- Fish species found in Whiskey Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Whiskey Lake is located in Douglas County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Whiskey Lake?
- Whiskey Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Whiskey Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
50 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
MNPCA50 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
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