---
type: lake
name: "East Chain"
county: "Martin"
nearest_town: "East Chain"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 481
max_depth_ft: 6
latitude: 43.54358
longitude: -94.36535
lake_score: 44
dnr_lake_id: "46001000"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/martin-county/east-chain
---

# East Chain

Lake in Martin County, Minnesota, near East Chain

- **Surface Area**: 481 acres
- **Max Depth**: 6 ft
- **Shoreline**: 5.9 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 1.7 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 44/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

East Chain is a 481-acre lake near East Chain in Martin County, Minnesota. It reaches 6 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 5.9 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 1.7 feet, so expect stained or algae-tinted water in summer.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 14 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, black crappie, white crappie, and yellow perch. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2025.

There is one public boat launch (concrete surface) managed by the city. Ice typically goes out around March 19, based on 9 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

- **Public access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Managed by**: city
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 14
- **Stocked**: No
- **Last DNR survey**: 2025
- **Special regulations**: No
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling

## Amenities

Boat Ramp

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, White Crappie, Yellow Perch, Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Common Carp, Freshwater Drum, Green Sunfish, Orangespotted Sunfish, Quillback, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: March 19
- **Years of record**: 9
- **Earliest**: 2024-02-23
- **Latest**: 2018-04-29

## Nearby Lakes

- [South Silver Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/martin-county/south-silver-lake) - 5.3 miles, 252 acres
- [Iowa Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/martin-county/iowa-lake) - 5.7 miles, 705 acres
- [Willmert Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/martin-county/willmert-lake) - 5.9 miles, 335 acres
- [Imogene Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/martin-county/imogene-lake) - 6.9 miles, 186 acres
- [Amber Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/martin-county/amber-lake) - 7 miles, 182 acres
- [Hall Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/martin-county/hall-lake) - 7.6 miles, 548 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=43.54358,-94.36535)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=46001000)
- [All lakes in Martin County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/martin-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/martin-county/east-chain)*