Little Sauk Lake
Todd County, Minnesota277 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Little Sauk Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Impaired biota (cause unknown)
- zebra mussel
- 29 ft max depth
- Public access
Little Sauk Lake in Todd County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 85 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 23 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 277.47 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 15, 2022 caught 6.60 walleye per gill net at Little Sauk Lake. DNR survey details →
Little Sauk Lake is a 277-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Todd County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 29 feet (12-foot average). Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Todd County, Little Sauk Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-16. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Little Sauk Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing17 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 15
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Little Sauk Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown), nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Little Sauk Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Little Sauk Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Little Sauk Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 5.1 ft. Phosphorus 85 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 23 µg/L. TSI 61.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 5.1ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 85µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 23µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 61 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Little Sauk Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Little Sauk Lake typically sits around 56°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 64°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 67°F) and coldest in Oct (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (56°F) to its warmest (67°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 87 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Sauk Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 15, 2022 caught 6.60 walleye per gill net at Little Sauk Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Little Sauk Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
16 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-09-17 (Targeted Survey).
16 surveys on file · most recent 2024-09-17 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 36.08 | 5–9 in 2024-09-17 | 0.15 lb |
| Black Crappie | 22.65 | 3–12 in 2024-09-17 | 0.33 lb |
| Bluegill | 11.43 | 3–10 in 2024-09-17 | 0.35 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 8.97 | 4–7 in 2024-09-17 | 1.73 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 7.90 | 12 in 2018-05-14 | 0.82 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 4.86 | 13–14 in 2022-08-15 | 1.04 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Black Crappie
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
From the 2024-09-17 survey
Fall Trap netting was performed September 17-18 to provide data on the Bluegill and Black Crappie size structures. "Conservation Regulations" were enacted in June of 2000 upon the development and opening of a public access site. The bag limits for sunfish and Black Crappie were reduced to 5 fish under these…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Sauk Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little SaukFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Little SaukFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little SaukPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
29 ft
Average depth
12 ft
Surface area
277 acres
Shoreline
4 mi
Littoral zone
58%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
135 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,237 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Little Sauk LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Little Sauk Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Sauk Lake in Todd 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. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Little Sauk Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Little Sauk Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Sauk Lake
- → Little Sauk Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Little Sauk Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Little Sauk Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Little Sauk Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water quality readings over time
2 seasons of samples on record (2020–2025). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Improving2 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+3.4 µg/L/yr2 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-1.96 µg/L/yr2 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 15
Earliest Apr 6, 2005 · Latest Apr 23, 2008
Typical ice-in
Nov 30
Earliest Nov 28, 2007 · Latest Dec 20, 2008
Most recent ice-out
Apr 23
2008
10 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Little Sauk Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN77-0164-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Todd County
Frequently asked questions about Little Sauk Lake
Where is Little Sauk Lake?
- Little Sauk Lake is a lake in Todd County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Little Sauk Lake?
- Little Sauk Lake in Todd County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 85 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 23 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 277.47 acres.
Is Little Sauk Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Little Sauk Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown), nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Little Sauk Lake?
- Little Sauk Lake typically sits around 56°F at the surface in October, from 87 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Sauk Lake?
- Little Sauk Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet and an average depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 277.47 acres.
What fish are in Little Sauk Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Sauk Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, redhorse, shorthead redhorse, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Little Sauk Lake is located in Todd County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Little Sauk Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 15, 2022 caught 6.60 walleye per gill net at Little Sauk Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Little Sauk Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Little Sauk Lake thaw?
- Little Sauk Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 15. Ice typically forms around Nov 30. The open water season is approximately 229 days.
Are there boat ramps on Little Sauk Lake?
- Little Sauk Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Little Sauk Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Little Sauk Lake?
- Little Sauk Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Little Sauk Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Todd County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Sauk River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Where this data comes from
68 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
MNPCA68 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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