Winsted Lake
Winsted Lake in McLeod County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 547 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 52.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 382.45 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Max depth
- 12 ft
- Area
- 382 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 6
- Open water
- 233 days
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Winsted Lake →
Next lake in McLeod County
Winsted Lake is a 382-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in McLeod County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 12 feet (6-foot average). Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2023. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in McLeod County, Winsted Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 547 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 52.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 75.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 547 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 52.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 75 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Winsted Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Winsted Lake in McLeod 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 Winsted Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Winsted Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Winsted Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in May (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 20 field readings (2023–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Winsted Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 12 ft |
| Average Depth | 6 ft |
| Surface Area | 382 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Winsted LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Winsted Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-06-28 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 61.44 | 0.38 lb |
| Shorthead Redhorse | 19.00 | 0.57 lb |
| Common Carp | 17.27 | 4.04 lb |
| Black Crappie | 15.56 | 0.36 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 10.57 | 0.21 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 8.19 | 1.27 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 Bullhead
Common Carp
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
From the 2021-06-28 survey
Winsted is a medium sized lake (382 acres) located near the City of Winsted in McLeod County. A small state-owned access with a single cement boat ramp is located on the southeast shore. Winsted has four miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 12 feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Winsted Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WinstedFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — WinstedFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WinstedPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (44 observations).
Estimated open water season: 233 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-03 (2024) | 2013-04-29 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-02 (1991) | 2015-12-17 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-30
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Winsted Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Winsted Lake (completed 1954), built primarily for recreation on the Crow River S Fork-TR; other-type dam, 7 ft tall and 46 ft long.
- Surface area
- 376 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,448 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,672 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 26.6 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MNDNR-Trails
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00159 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Winsted 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 MN43-0012-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Winsted Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Winsted WwtpWinsted · 1.3 mi away · NPDES MN0021571Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 5 lakes in McLeod County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Winsted Lake holds Grade F. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in McLeod County
Frequently asked questions about Winsted Lake
What is the water quality grade for Winsted Lake?
- Winsted Lake in McLeod County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 547 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 52.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 382.45 acres.
Is Winsted Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Winsted Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 52.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Winsted Lake?
- Winsted Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 20 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Winsted Lake?
- Winsted Lake has a maximum depth of 12 feet and an average depth of 6 feet. The lake covers 382.45 acres.
What fish are in Winsted Lake?
- Fish species found in Winsted Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, common carp, green sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, orangespotted sunfish, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Winsted Lake is located in McLeod County, Minnesota.
When does Winsted Lake thaw?
- Winsted Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 6. Ice typically forms around Nov 25. The open water season is approximately 233 days.
Are there boat ramps on Winsted Lake?
- Winsted Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Winsted Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Winsted Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in McLeod County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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State Parks Near Winsted Lake
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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