Sabin Lake
Sabin Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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.
- Clarity
- 2.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 68°F
- Max depth
- 52 ft
- Area
- 279 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 23
- Open water
- 216 days
Next lake in St. Louis County
Sabin Lake is a 279-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 52 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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 with 2 public boat landings. 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. 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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 19.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 19.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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.
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Water Temperature
Sabin Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August. 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.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 24 field readings (2023–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 52 ft |
| Surface Area | 279 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 25% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Sabin LakePublic
- Wynne LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Sabin Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2016-08-08 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 6.22 | 0.11 lb |
| Black Crappie | 2.34 | 0.3 lb |
| Bluegill | 2.09 | 0.37 lb |
| Walleye | 1.90 | 0.72 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.84 | 2.3 lb |
| Northern Pike | 1.56 | 1.56 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.
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
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.593 m/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (14 observations).
Estimated open water season: 216 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2005-04-14 (2005) | 2008-05-04 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2014-11-10 (2014) | 2001-12-14 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2015-04-17
EPA Impairment Status
Sabin Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN69-0434-01 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #17 of 68 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Sabin Lake
What is the water quality grade for Sabin Lake?
- Sabin Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Sabin Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Sabin Lake?
- Sabin Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in August, 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.
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.
Are there boat ramps on Sabin Lake?
- Sabin Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Sabin Lake, Wynne Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Sabin Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in St. Louis County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Rainy Lake Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Sabin Lake
Other Grade A 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)
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