Sallie Lake
Becker County, Minnesota1,280 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Sallie Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 50 ft max depth
- Public access
Sallie Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 50 ft. Surface area: 1279.78 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 25, 2024 caught 3.50 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at Sallie Lake. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of Sallie Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 50 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Sallie Lake is a 1,280-acre mesotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 50 feet (17-foot average). Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Sallie Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-23. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Sallie Lake covers about 1,300 acres in Becker County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 18, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Sallie Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Sallie Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water13 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing16 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 18
- Deep water50 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water1,280 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
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. Sallie Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Sallie 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 Sallie Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Sallie Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft. Phosphorus 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.9 µg/L. TSI 45.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 13ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 21µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 4.9µg/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. | 45 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Sallie Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Sallie Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 71°F) and coldest in May (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 (71°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,066 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sallie Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Sallie Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (42,462 cells/mL) on July 4, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 25, 2024 caught 3.50 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at Sallie Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Sallie Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-25 (Targeted Survey).
14 surveys on file · most recent 2024-07-25 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 39.04 | 8–15 in 2019-07-15 | 0.78 lb |
| Spottail Shiner | 25.63 | ||
| Yellow Perch | 23.83 | 5–8 in 2024-07-14 | 0.13 lb |
| Bluegill | 19.64 | 3–8 in 2024-07-14 | 0.21 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 11.89 |
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.
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
From the 2024-07-25 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Lake Sallie was conducted July 26th, 29th, and 30th, 2024, by Detroit Lakes Fisheries Staff. Data was collected from 18 sampling stations evenly spaced around the lake. All stations were sampled with a backpack electrofishing unit, 13 were sampled with a 50-foot seine and…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Sallie Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SallieFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Sallie (1229)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SallieFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SalliePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
50 ft
Average depth
17 ft
Surface area
1,280 acres
Shoreline
5.8 mi
Littoral zone
45%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
92 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,322 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Sallie 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 Sallie Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sallie Lake in Becker 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 Sallie 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 Sallie Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Sallie Lake
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 Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.67 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-0.13 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 18
Earliest Apr 2, 2010 · Latest May 11, 2013
Most recent ice-out
May 8
2022
60 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Sallie Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN03-0359-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Sallie Lake
Where is Sallie Lake?
- Sallie Lake is a lake in Becker County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Sallie Lake?
- Sallie Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 50 ft. Surface area: 1279.78 acres.
Is Sallie Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Sallie Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Sallie Lake?
- Sallie Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September, from 1,066 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Sallie Lake?
- Sallie Lake has a maximum depth of 50 feet and an average depth of 17 feet. The lake covers 1279.78 acres.
What fish are in Sallie Lake?
- Fish species found in Sallie Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Sallie Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Sallie Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 25, 2024 caught 3.50 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at Sallie Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Sallie Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Sallie Lake thaw?
- Sallie Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 18.
Does Sallie Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Sallie Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (42,462 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Sallie Lake?
- Sallie Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Sallie Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Sallie Lake?
- Sallie 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 Sallie Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Becker County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
251 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
MNPCA251 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 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