Lake Winnibigoshish vs Sugar Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Lake Winnibigoshish and Sugar Lake both received the same overall water quality grade of C (Fair). Both are in Minnesota.
Both Lake Winnibigoshish and Sugar Lake sit in Minnesota. A same-state comparison strips out the state-level water-quality regime as a variable: any grade differences here are about the lakes themselves, not the agencies grading them. The grades are close: Lake Winnibigoshish (C) and Sugar Lake (C) are within one letter of each other on our A–F scale. The per-parameter sub-grades below will show where the small differences actually live.
With grades this close, the choice between the two lakes turns on non-water-quality factors: depth, fish species, public access, distance from home. The per-lake pages below cover all of those.
Lake Winnibigoshish
Good clarity, visible to about 12.1 ft.
Sugar Lake
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.4 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Lake Winnibigoshish | Sugar Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | C (Fair) | C (Fair) |
| Water Clarity | 12.1 ft Better | 8.4 ft |
| Phosphorus | 29 µg/L | 18 µg/L Better |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.2 µg/L | 4.9 µg/L Better |
| Maximum Depth | 69.8 ft Better | 22 ft |
| Surface Area | 56,471 acres | 1,509 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 20 Better | 13 |
| Trophic State | mesotrophic | mesotrophic |
A green ✓ marks the better value for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better). Surface area and trophic state carry no tick — a bigger lake is not a better lake.
Swap a lake
Compare Lake Winnibigoshish or Sugar Lake against a different lake.
Verdict
Both lakes earn the same Grade C. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Lake Winnibigoshish: 12.1 ft, Sugar Lake: 8.4 ft) and what you want from the lake. Lake Winnibigoshish supports more documented fish species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.