Lax Lake
Lax Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 9.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 295.1 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.4 ft
- Typical in August
- 68°F
- Max depth
- 35 ft
- Area
- 295 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 29
- Open water
- 202 days
Next lake in Lake County
Lax Lake is a 295-acre mesotrophic lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 35 feet (10-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and hybrid sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Lax Lake ranks #29 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.4 ft. Phosphorus level: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 18 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Lax Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lax Lake in Lake 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
Lax Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 68°F) and coldest in May (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 102 field readings (2011–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lax Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 35 ft |
| Average Depth | 10 ft |
| Surface Area | 295 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 65% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lax LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lax Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
30 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-21 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 15.75 | 1.26 lb |
| Bluegill | 14.57 | 0.23 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 10.80 | 0.18 lb |
| White Sucker | 7.40 | 2.32 lb |
| CNM | 6.86 | — |
| GOS | 5.82 | — |
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
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
White Sucker
From the 2025-07-21 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Lax Lake was conducted on July 21st-July 23rd, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing, mini-fyke nets, and seining with a 50-foot or…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Lax Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LaxFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Lax (0751)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — LaxFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — LaxPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.735 m/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (104 observations).
Estimated open water season: 202 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-04-05 (2000) | 1996-05-13 (1996) |
| Ice-In | 1988-10-29 (1988) | 1998-12-07 (1998) |
Most recent ice-out: 2020-05-02
EPA Impairment Status
Lax Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN38-0406-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #29 of 35 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lax Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Lax Lake
What is the water quality grade for Lax Lake?
- Lax Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 9.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 295.1 acres.
Is Lax Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Lax Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lax Lake?
- Lax Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August, from 102 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lax Lake?
- Lax Lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet and an average depth of 10 feet. The lake covers 295.1 acres.
What fish are in Lax Lake?
- Fish species found in Lax Lake include black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Lax Lake is located in Lake County, Minnesota.
When does Lax Lake thaw?
- Lax Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 29. Ice typically forms around Nov 17. The open water season is approximately 202 days.
Are there boat ramps on Lax Lake?
- Lax Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lax Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lax Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
4.4 mi away · 63 ft
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
29 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA29 samples · 2020–2022
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate