Sauk Lake
Stearns County, Minnesota2,126 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Sauk Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 61 ft max depth
- Public access
Sauk Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 52 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 22.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 61 ft. Surface area: 2125.69 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 14, 2023 caught 12.47 walleye per gill net at Sauk Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–10 inches. DNR survey details →
Sauk Lake is a 2,126-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 61 feet (17-foot average). Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 18 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 31 other monitored lakes in Stearns County, Sauk Lake ranks #16 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-14. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Sauk Lake covers about 2,100 acres in Stearns County. It has 3 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. The median ice-out date is April 7, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Sauk Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Sauk Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Fishing18 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 7
- Deep water61 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water2,126 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyAlgae risk
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 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 Sauk Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for 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 3.9 ft. Phosphorus 52 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 22.3 µg/L. TSI 60.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3.9ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 52µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 22.3µg/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. | 60 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Sauk Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 14, 2023 caught 12.47 walleye per gill net at Sauk Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–10 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Sauk 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
29 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-09-09 (Targeted Survey).
29 surveys on file · most recent 2025-09-09 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 47.09 | 4–10 in 2023-08-14 | 0.1 lb |
| Walleye | 44.05 | 5–10 in 2025-09-09 | 1.33 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 40.43 | ||
| Bluegill | 16.70 | 3–10 in 2023-08-14 | 0.23 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
Walleye
Bluegill
From the 2025-09-09 survey
Sauk (Big Sauk) Lake (DOW# 77-0150-00; Lake Class 25) is a 2,126-acre lake that extends north of the Sauk Centre Dam. The lake has a maximum depth of 61 feet, an average depth of 17 feet, and water visibility around 6 feet. Sauk Lake has a variety of submerged, emergent, and floating-leaf vegetation around its…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for 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 — SaukFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SaukFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SaukPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
61 ft
Average depth
17 ft
Surface area
2,126 acres
Shoreline
22.3 mi
Littoral zone
65%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Recreation & Access
- Sauk Lake (South)Public
- Highway 71 BridgePublic
- Diamond PointPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Sauk Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sauk Lake in Stearns 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 Sauk Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near 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 →
Follow Sauk Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Sauk 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
Stable-0.3 µg/L/yr2 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-2 µg/L/yr2 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 7
Earliest Mar 16, 2016 · Latest May 1, 2018
Typical ice-in
Dec 1
Earliest Nov 10, 2018 · Latest Dec 25, 2017
Most recent ice-out
Apr 10
2025
26 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Sauk Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Valero-Sauk Centre TerminalSauk Centre · 2.7 mi away · NPDES MN0057771
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about Sauk Lake
Where is Sauk Lake?
- Sauk Lake is a lake in Stearns County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Sauk Lake?
- Sauk Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 52 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 22.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 61 ft. Surface area: 2125.69 acres.
Is Sauk Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Sauk Lake?
- Sauk Lake has a maximum depth of 61 feet and an average depth of 17 feet. The lake covers 2125.69 acres.
What fish are in Sauk Lake?
- Fish species found in Sauk Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Sauk Lake is located in Stearns County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Sauk Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 14, 2023 caught 12.47 walleye per gill net at Sauk Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–10 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Sauk 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 Sauk Lake thaw?
- Sauk Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 7. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 238 days.
Are there boat ramps on Sauk Lake?
- Sauk Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Sauk Lake (South), Highway 71 Bridge, Diamond Point. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Sauk Lake?
- Sauk Lake has 3 documented boat landings 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 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 Stearns County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Sauk River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Sauk Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
343 measurements from 5 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
MNPCA343 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 (5)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate