Fish Lake Water Temperature
Fish Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota averages about 65°F at the surface in summer — warmest in Jul (~69°F) and coldest in May (~51°F). These are typical values by month, not a live reading.
Typical water temperature by month
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 119 field readings (2010–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.
Is Fish Lake warm enough to swim?
Brisk but swimmable for short dips — most people acclimate after the first few minutes.
Want more than temperature? Fish Lake scored A on water quality — clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and swimming safety, all on one report card.
Water temperatures at nearby Minnesota lakes
Summer average ~73°F
Summer average ~69°F
Summer average ~74°F
Summer average ~71°F
Summer average ~70°F
Summer average ~73°F
Explore water temperatures
Where to stay near Fish Lake
Planning a swim or lake trip? Compare cabins, lodges, and vacation rentals near Fish Lake — live availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Fish Lake
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 trip to Fish Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Fish Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked questions
What is the water temperature of Fish Lake?
Fish Lake has a typical summer surface temperature of about 65°F. It is usually warmest in July (around 69°F) and coldest in May (around 51°F). These are typical values by month from 119 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2021), not a live reading.
When is Fish Lake warmest?
Surface water at Fish Lake is typically warmest in July, reaching about 69°F. Lake surface temperature lags air temperature by several weeks, so the warmest water usually arrives in mid-to-late summer even though the hottest air can come earlier.
Is Fish Lake warm enough to swim?
At its typical summer peak of about 65°F, Fish Lake rates as "cool" for swimming. Brisk but swimmable for short dips — most people acclimate after the first few minutes.
Where does this Fish Lake water temperature data come from?
Every temperature on this page is a typical (climatological) value computed from real surface-water field readings collected by state and federal agencies and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal — 119 readings from 2 monitoring stations between 2010 and 2021. They describe what is typical for each month, not the temperature right now.
About this data
Water temperatures are a climatology — the typical value for each month, averaged from real surface-water field readings collected by state and federal agencies and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. They tell you what to expect, not the temperature at this moment. Actual conditions vary with recent weather, depth, and time of day.