Skogman Lake
Skogman Lake in Isanti County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 228.06 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.4 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 36 ft
- Area
- 228 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 7
- Open water
- 233 days
Next lake in Isanti County
Skogman Lake is a 228-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Isanti County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 36 feet (11-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 16 other monitored lakes in Isanti County, Skogman Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 5.4 ft. Phosphorus level: 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 13.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 31 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 13.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Skogman Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Skogman Lake in Isanti 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
Skogman Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Nov (about 46°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 51 field readings (2018–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Skogman Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 36 ft |
| Average Depth | 10.6 ft |
| Surface Area | 228 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 59% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Skogman LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Skogman 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-05 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 31.03 | 0.12 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 13.88 | 1.6 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 13.50 | 0.03 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 8.70 | 0.6 lb |
| Black Crappie | 8.42 | 0.18 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.80 | 0.09 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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Green Sunfish
Black Bullhead
From the 2022-07-05 survey
Skogman is a bass-panfish lake managed primarily for Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass. The current fisheries management plan, revised in 2017, calls for spring Walleye fry stocking when surplus is available. In order to evaluate management goals, a lake survey was conducted in July of 2022. Compared to previous…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Skogman Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SkogmanFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Skogman (1849)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SkogmanFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SkogmanPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.026 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.25 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.34 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (33 observations).
Estimated open water season: 233 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-16 (2016) | 2013-05-09 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-13 (2018) | 2001-12-19 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-04-02
EPA Impairment Status
Skogman 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 MN30-0022-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 17 lakes in Isanti County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Skogman Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Isanti County
Frequently asked questions about Skogman Lake
What is the water quality grade for Skogman Lake?
- Skogman Lake in Isanti County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 228.06 acres.
Is Skogman Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Skogman Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 13.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Skogman Lake?
- Skogman Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 51 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2018–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Skogman Lake?
- Skogman Lake has a maximum depth of 36 feet and an average depth of 10.6 feet. The lake covers 228.06 acres.
What fish are in Skogman Lake?
- Fish species found in Skogman Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Skogman Lake is located in Isanti County, Minnesota.
When does Skogman Lake thaw?
- Skogman Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 7. Ice typically forms around Nov 26. The open water season is approximately 233 days.
Are there boat ramps on Skogman Lake?
- Skogman Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Skogman Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Skogman Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
137 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
MNPCA137 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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