Skogman Lake
Isanti County, Minnesota228 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Skogman Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- 36 ft max depth
- Public access
Skogman Lake in Isanti County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 5, 2022 caught 1.33 walleye per gill net at Skogman Lake. DNR survey details →
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). 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Skogman Lake covers about 230 acres in Isanti County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 7, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Skogman Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Skogman Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing12 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 7
- Deep water36 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
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. Skogman Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Skogman 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 Skogman Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Skogman 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 5.4 ft. Phosphorus 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 13.4 µg/L. TSI 54.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 5.4ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 31µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 13.4µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 54 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Skogman Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Skogman Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in October. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (46°F) to its warmest (78°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 5, 2022 caught 1.33 walleye per gill net at Skogman Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Skogman 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
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-05 (Targeted Survey).
8 surveys on file · most recent 2022-07-05 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 31.03 | 2–8 in 2022-07-05 | 0.12 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 13.88 | 4–19 in 2022-07-05 | 1.6 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 13.50 | 3 in 2013-07-08 | 0.03 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 8.70 | 15 in 2022-07-05 | 0.6 lb |
| Black Crappie | 8.42 | 4–10 in 2022-07-05 | 0.18 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.80 | 5–9 in 2022-07-05 | 0.09 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.
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
Lake Details
Max depth
36 ft
Average depth
10.6 ft
Surface area
228 acres
Shoreline
6.1 mi
Littoral zone
59%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
5 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
932 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Skogman 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 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Skogman Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Stable+0.25 µg/L/yr4 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-1.34 µg/L/yr4 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 7
Earliest Mar 16, 2016 · Latest May 9, 2013
Typical ice-in
Nov 26
Earliest Nov 13, 2018 · Latest Dec 19, 2001
Most recent ice-out
Apr 2
2026
33 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
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
Designated uses not supporting: Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN30-0022-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Isanti County
Frequently asked questions about Skogman Lake
Where is Skogman Lake?
- Skogman Lake is a lake in Isanti County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Skogman Lake?
- Skogman Lake in Isanti County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Skogman Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Skogman Lake?
- Skogman Lake typically sits around 62°F at the surface in October, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Skogman Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 5, 2022 caught 1.33 walleye per gill net at Skogman Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Skogman 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 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.
Can I fish at Skogman Lake?
- Skogman 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 Skogman Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Isanti County
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)
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