Dago Lake
Dago Lake in Pine County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 117.81 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.8 ft
- Max depth
- 20 ft
- Area
- 118 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Pine County
Why Dago Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Dago Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Dago Lake is a 118-acre lake in Pine County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 20 feet. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-08-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Dago Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 12.8 ft. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Dago Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Dago Lake in Pine 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Dago Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 20 ft |
| Surface Area | 118 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 91% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Dago LakePublic
- Willow River ReservoirPublic
Fishing Dago Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2006-07-05 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 17.32 | 1.42 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 15.95 | 0.47 lb |
| Bluegill | 5.59 | 0.18 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.33 | 1.54 lb |
| Black Crappie | 3.00 | 0.16 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.89 | 0.08 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.
Largemouth Bass
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
Northern Pike
From the 2006-07-05 survey
Dago is a 107-acre moderately fertile lake located within the General C. C. Andrews State Forest in northern Pine County. The Dago Lake Day Use Area contains a public boat access with a large parking lot, picnic tables, and several trails. The lakes clear water and sandy shores are popular with swimmers, though no…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Dago Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — DagoFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Dago (0419)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — DagoPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Nearby Lakes in Pine County
Frequently asked questions about Dago Lake
What is the water quality grade for Dago Lake?
- Dago Lake in Pine County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 12.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 117.81 acres.
Is Dago Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Dago Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Dago Lake?
- Dago Lake has a maximum depth of 20 feet. The lake covers 117.81 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Dago Lake?
- Dago Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Dago Lake, Willow River Reservoir. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
6 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA6 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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