Sabin Lake
St. Louis County, Minnesota279 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Sabin Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- 52 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Sabin Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 52 ft. Surface area: 278.87 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 8, 2016 caught 2.11 walleye per gill net at Sabin Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–27 inches. DNR survey details →
Sabin Lake is a 279-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 52 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and cisco species. Public access is available. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in St. Louis County, Sabin Lake ranks #17 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-07-20. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Sabin Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing10 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 23
- Deep water52 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Sabin 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 Sabin Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Sabin Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 19.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.1 µg/L. TSI 53.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2.1ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 19.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 4.1µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 53 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Sabin Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Sabin Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 70°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (57°F) to its warmest (70°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 24 field readings (2023–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 8, 2016 caught 2.11 walleye per gill net at Sabin Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–27 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Sabin Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2016-08-08 (Standard Survey).
8 surveys on file · most recent 2016-08-08 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 6.22 | 6–10 in 2006-08-07 | 0.11 lb |
| Black Crappie | 2.34 | 4–12 in 2016-08-08 | 0.3 lb |
| Bluegill | 2.09 | 6–8 in 2016-08-08 | 0.37 lb |
| Walleye | 1.90 | 6–27 in 2016-08-08 | 0.72 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.84 | 11–19 in 2016-08-08 | 2.3 lb |
| Northern Pike | 1.56 | 16–35 in 2016-08-08 | 1.56 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.
Tullibee (Cisco)
Black Crappie
Bluegill
Walleye
From the 2016-08-08 survey
Wynne Lake is a 278 acre lake located just northwest of the city of Biwabik. It is accessed by a ramp on the north end of the lake. It has a maximum depth of 52 feet and dark brown water. in August 2016, oxygen levels were adequate for fish to a depth of 27 feet. Wynne Lake is relatively developed with year round and…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Sabin Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WynneFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WynnePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
52 ft
Surface area
279 acres
Shoreline
6.2 mi
Littoral zone
25%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Sabin Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sabin Lake in St. Louis 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 Sabin 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 →
Follow Sabin Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Sabin Lake
Water quality readings over time
2 seasons of samples on record (2021–2024). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Worsening2 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 23
Earliest Apr 14, 2005 · Latest May 4, 2008
Typical ice-in
Nov 25
Earliest Nov 10, 2014 · Latest Dec 14, 2001
Most recent ice-out
Apr 17
2015
14 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Sabin Lake
Where is Sabin Lake?
- Sabin Lake is a lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Sabin Lake?
- Sabin Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 52 ft. Surface area: 278.87 acres.
Is Sabin Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Sabin Lake?
- Sabin Lake typically sits around 58°F at the surface in October, from 24 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Sabin Lake?
- Sabin Lake has a maximum depth of 52 feet. The lake covers 278.87 acres.
What fish are in Sabin Lake?
- Fish species found in Sabin Lake include black crappie, bluegill, cisco species, northern pike, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Sabin Lake is located in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Sabin Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 8, 2016 caught 2.11 walleye per gill net at Sabin Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–27 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Sabin Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Sabin Lake thaw?
- Sabin Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 23. Ice typically forms around Nov 25. The open water season is approximately 216 days.
Can I fish at Sabin Lake?
- Public access to Sabin Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. 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 Sabin 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 St. Louis County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Lake Vermilion Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Rainy Lake Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Sabin Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
101 measurements from 4 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA101 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
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
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate