Sawbill Lake
Sawbill Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.6 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 45 ft. Surface area: 833.89 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.6 ft
- Max depth
- 45 ft
- Area
- 834 acres
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- May 7
- Open water
- 189 days
Next lake in Cook County
Why Sawbill Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Sawbill Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Sawbill Lake is a 834-acre lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 45 feet. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including burbot, cisco species, and northern pike. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-08-12. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Sawbill Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 6.6 ft. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Sawbill Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sawbill Lake in Cook 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 Sawbill Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 45 ft |
| Surface Area | 834 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 26.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 53% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Sawbill Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2013-09-09 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| White Sucker | 5.70 | 2.7 lb |
| Walleye | 2.41 | 1.13 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 1.68 | 0.13 lb |
| Northern Pike | 1.15 | 1.5 lb |
| Rock Bass | 0.94 | 0.27 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 0.31 | 1.57 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.
White Sucker
Walleye
Yellow Perch
Northern Pike
From the 2013-09-09 survey
This assessment was to have been the second of two scheduled in the 2005 lake management plan to monitor walleye and northern pike abundance, and to determine whether a resumption of walleye stocking was needed. The first, scheduled for 2008, could not be completed. Walleye were present in fair numbers in 2013, and…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Sawbill Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SawbillFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SawbillPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (14 observations).
Estimated open water season: 189 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-27 (2012) | 2014-05-15 (2014) |
| Ice-In | 2019-11-08 (2019) | 1990-11-24 (1990) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-04-17
EPA Impairment Status
Sawbill Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN16-0496-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Sawbill Lake
What is the water quality grade for Sawbill Lake?
- Sawbill Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.6 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 45 ft. Surface area: 833.89 acres.
Is Sawbill Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Sawbill Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Sawbill Lake?
- Sawbill Lake has a maximum depth of 45 feet. The lake covers 833.89 acres.
What fish are in Sawbill Lake?
- Fish species found in Sawbill Lake include burbot, cisco species, northern pike, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Sawbill Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.
When does Sawbill Lake thaw?
- Sawbill Lake typically has ice-out around May 7. Ice typically forms around Nov 12. The open water season is approximately 189 days.
Explore Sawbill Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
3 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA3 samples · 2024–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate