Tenth Crow Wing

Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Tenth Crow Wing Lake on July 30th, 2025. This was done to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on data collected from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth was 35.1 feet), the water temperature decreased to 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 13.2 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 14.2 feet at the time of sampling. This layer in the water column was 0.9 feet, indicating oxythermal habitat for Cisco was present but marginal. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 20.4 degrees C (68.7 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were marginal for Cisco at the time of the survey as the layer was confined to less than 3 feet of suitable habitat at the time of the survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 2008 also indicated suitable oxythermal habitat. When adequate oxythermal habitat is not available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress

Tenth Crow Wing Lake is located one mile southwest of Akeley in southeastern Hubbard County. Tenth Crow Wing Lake is part of a chain of lakes running from Eleventh Crow Wing Lake at the headwaters, down to First Crow Wing Lake. Tenth Crow Wing has a surface area of 175 acres and a maximum depth of 40 feet. A public access is located on the southeast shore off County Road 49. Boating access is also available from the channel connecting to Ninth Crow Wing Lake then Eighth Crow Wing Lake. Tenth Crow Wing provides angling opportunities for Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and panfish. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Tenth Crow Wing is in lake class 29. Class 29 lakes generally have a high littoral area (lake area less than 15 feet deep) and a regularly shaped shoreline. Other class 29 lakes in the Park Rapids management area include: Cedar, Little Island, Mirage, Mow, Mud, Palmer, and Spirit. A special 24-36 inch protected slot length limit for Northern Pike was implemented in the spring of 2020 on Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Crow Wing Lakes. The objective of this regulation was to maintain or increase Northern Pike sizes. From 2003 to 2019 these lakes had a 40 inch minimum size limit on Northern Pike. Northern Pike abundance in recent surveys has fluctuated in moderate numbers for this lake class with good average size. Northern Pike had an average length and weight of 22.9 inches and 2.9 pounds with fish measured up to 35.7 inches. Present and past surveys have shown that Tenth Crow Wing supports good populations of Bluegill, Black Crappie, and Largemouth Bass. Anglers will find Bluegill and Pumpkinseed in the 6-8 inch size range and Black Crappie in the 9-10 inch size range. Spring electrofishing sampling for Largemouth Bass was not conducted in 2023, but past surveys have sampled moderate to high numbers of bass for this area. Other species sampled included moderate numbers of Bowfin, and low numbers of Walleye, Brown Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, Pumpkinseed, Hybrid Sunfish, Rock Bass, and White Sucker. Currently no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Tenth Crow Wing. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access.

A targeted survey of the nearshore fish community in Tenth Crow Wing Lake was conducted on August 22-23, 2018 by Fisheries Lake IBI program staff. Sampling stations were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 10 stations with one site sampled from the boat. A 50-foot seine was used to sample two stations, a 15-foot seine was used to sample six stations, and two sampling stations had conditions that prevented the use of seines. Nearshore sampling captured 15 native species of fish including six species that are intolerant of habitat disturbance (Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Least Darter, and Pugnose Shiner) and no tolerant species. Data from this targeted nearshore survey is combined with data from standard gill and trap netting surveys to calculate a Fish-based Index of Biological Integrity (FIBI) that describes the overall health of the lake. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. The FIBI score for Tenth Crow Wing Lake based on this survey is exceptionally high, well above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Crow Wing River Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, and Black Crappie in Tenth Crow Wing. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Tenth Crow Wing. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Tenth Crow Wing has a maximum depth of 40 feet and a mean depth of 12 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Tenth Crow Wing is from 2023.

No invasive species are on record for Tenth Crow Wing in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.