Wolf Lake
Wolf Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 1459.83 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 16 ft
- Area
- 1,460 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Becker County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Wolf Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 10 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Wolf Lake is a 1,460-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 16 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2022. The lake supports 11 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, Wolf Lake ranks #60 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-09-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Wolf Lake water quality
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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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 3.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 25 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Wolf Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Wolf 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Wolf Lake
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Water Temperature
Wolf Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 17 field readings (2022–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Wolf Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 16 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,460 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 14.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 99% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Wolf LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Wolf Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2016-06-20 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 165.04 | 0.12 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 14.46 | 0.15 lb |
| Bluegill | 11.68 | 0.15 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 10.52 | 0.08 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 8.95 | 0.49 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.31 | 1.9 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
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
From the 2016-06-20 survey
Fish communities are dynamic in all lakes and streams, constantly changing due to weather patterns, habitat alterations, stocking, fishing pressure and many other influences. In Wolf Lake, winterkill greatly increases the intensity of these fish population shifts. Historically, the lake has been known for "boom or…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Wolf Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WolfFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Wolf (1016)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — WolfFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WolfPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
County Ranking
Ranked #60 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Wolf Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Wolf Lake
What is the water quality grade for Wolf Lake?
- Wolf Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 1459.83 acres.
Is Wolf Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Wolf Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Wolf Lake?
- Wolf Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 17 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Wolf Lake?
- Wolf Lake has a maximum depth of 16 feet. The lake covers 1459.83 acres.
What fish are in Wolf Lake?
- Fish species found in Wolf Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Wolf Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Wolf Lake?
- Wolf Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Wolf Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Wolf Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
16 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA16 samples · 2022
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory