Bagley Lake
Bagley Lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 39 ft. Surface area: 97.43 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 64°F
- Max depth
- 39 ft
- Area
- 97 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Clearwater County
Bagley Lake is a 97-acre mesotrophic lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 39 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 36 other monitored lakes in Clearwater County, Bagley Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Bagley Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bagley Lake in Clearwater 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.
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Water Temperature
Bagley Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 63°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 65°F) and coldest in May (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 343 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bagley Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 39 ft |
| Surface Area | 97 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 51% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Bagley LakePublic
- Long LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bagley Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2019-06-17 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 12.56 | 0.28 lb |
| Northern Pike | 8.25 | 1.39 lb |
| Black Crappie | 5.17 | 0.55 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.98 | 0.2 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 3.43 | 0.9 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.09 | 2.83 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.
Yellow Perch
Northern Pike
Black Crappie
Pumpkinseed
From the 2019-06-17 survey
Bagley Lake is a 97-acre lake with a maximum depth of 39 feet located 10 miles north of the town of Leonard in Clearwater County. There is a County-owned public access with an earthen ramp and parking for 3 to 4 trucks/trailers located on the north shore of the lake. Bagley Lake has had a history of winter-kills…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bagley Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BagleyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Bagley (1701)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BagleyPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.063 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.06 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.36 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 37 lakes in Clearwater County
Nearby Lakes in Clearwater County
Frequently asked questions about Bagley Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bagley Lake?
- Bagley Lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 39 ft. Surface area: 97.43 acres.
Is Bagley Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Bagley Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Bagley Lake?
- Bagley Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August, from 343 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Bagley Lake?
- Bagley Lake has a maximum depth of 39 feet. The lake covers 97.43 acres.
What fish are in Bagley Lake?
- Fish species found in Bagley Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, northern pike, pumpkinseed, white sucker, yellow perch. Bagley Lake is located in Clearwater County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Bagley Lake?
- Bagley Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bagley Lake, Long Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bagley Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
87 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA87 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent 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