Snaptail Lake
Snaptail Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 70 ft. Surface area: 174.55 acres.
- Clarity
- 9 ft
- Max depth
- 70 ft
- Area
- 175 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 14
- Open water
- 221 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Snaptail 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 Snaptail 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.
Snaptail Lake is a 175-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 70 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-11. 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 Snaptail Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Snaptail Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Snaptail Lake in Itasca 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 Snaptail Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 70 ft |
| Surface Area | 175 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 33% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Snaptail LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Snaptail Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-18 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 20.21 | 0.09 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 13.55 | 0.54 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 7.21 | 2.16 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 6.55 | — |
| SUN | 3.86 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 3.57 | 0.11 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
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-08-18 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Snaptail Lake, was conducted on August 18th, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot seine, where possible.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Snaptail Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SnaptailFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Snaptail (0803)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Snaptail (2065)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SnaptailPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.251 m/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (64 observations).
Estimated open water season: 221 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-24 (2012) | 2013-05-11 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-04 (1991) | 2016-12-09 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2023-05-05
Graded lakes near Snaptail Lake
Snaptail Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Snaptail Lake
What is the water quality grade for Snaptail Lake?
- Snaptail Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 70 ft. Surface area: 174.55 acres.
Is Snaptail Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Snaptail 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 Snaptail Lake?
- Snaptail Lake has a maximum depth of 70 feet. The lake covers 174.55 acres.
What fish are in Snaptail Lake?
- Fish species found in Snaptail Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow perch. Snaptail Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does Snaptail Lake thaw?
- Snaptail Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 14. Ice typically forms around Nov 21. The open water season is approximately 221 days.
Are there boat ramps on Snaptail Lake?
- Snaptail Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Snaptail Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
30 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA30 samples · 2020–2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
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