South Sugar Lake
Itasca County, Minnesota83 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for South Sugar Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 36 ft max depth
South Sugar Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 82.72 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 21, 2017 caught 0.25 walleye per gill net at South Sugar Lake. DNR survey details →
South Sugar Lake is a 83-acre mesotrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 36 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, South Sugar Lake ranks #33 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-22. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
South Sugar Lake covers about 83 acres in Itasca County. The median ice-out date is April 17, which is when the open-water season begins. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near South Sugar Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What South Sugar Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water14.4 ft of visibility
- Fishing8 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 17
- Deep water36 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
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 South Sugar 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 South Sugar Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for South Sugar Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 14.4 ft. Phosphorus 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.6 µg/L. TSI 42.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 14.4ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 15µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 3.6µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 42 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about South Sugar Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
South Sugar Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 66°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (66°F) to its warmest (75°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 14 field readings (2017–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full South Sugar Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 21, 2017 caught 0.25 walleye per gill net at South Sugar Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows South Sugar Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2017-08-21 (Standard Survey).
3 surveys on file · most recent 2017-08-21 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 28.66 | 8–18 in 2017-08-21 | 1.05 lb |
| Bluegill | 13.67 | 3–7 in 2017-08-21 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 5.27 | 8–10 in 2006-08-28 | 0.64 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.26 | 3–7 in 2017-08-21 | 0.11 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.21 | 17–32 in 2017-08-21 | 3.23 lb |
| Black Crappie | 3.12 | 3–11 in 2017-08-21 | 0.28 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
From the 2017-08-21 survey
South Sugar is an 88 acre lake located six miles southwest of Grand Rapids in the Mississippi River headwaters watershed. The lake is connected to Sisseebakwet (Sugar) Lake through a shallow channel navigable by small boats. South Sugar is relatively lightly developed and has clear water. The lake supports a variety…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for South Sugar Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — South SugarFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
36 ft
Surface area
83 acres
Shoreline
2.3 mi
Littoral zone
36%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
No
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
2 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,325 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays near South Sugar Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near South Sugar 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 South Sugar 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 South Sugar Lake
- → South Sugar Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → South Sugar Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → South Sugar Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from South Sugar Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Stable-0.11 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+0.74 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 17
Earliest Mar 29, 2000 · Latest May 6, 1996
Typical ice-in
Nov 28
Earliest Nov 19, 2006 · Latest Nov 29, 2003
Most recent ice-out
May 6
2022
19 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about South Sugar Lake
Where is South Sugar Lake?
- South Sugar Lake is a lake in Itasca County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of South Sugar Lake?
- South Sugar Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 36 ft. Surface area: 82.72 acres.
Is South Sugar Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of South Sugar Lake?
- South Sugar Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August, from 14 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is South Sugar Lake?
- South Sugar Lake has a maximum depth of 36 feet. The lake covers 82.72 acres.
What fish are in South Sugar Lake?
- Fish species found in South Sugar Lake include black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, yellow perch. South Sugar Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at South Sugar Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 21, 2017 caught 0.25 walleye per gill net at South Sugar Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows South Sugar Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does South Sugar Lake thaw?
- South Sugar Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 17. Ice typically forms around Nov 28. The open water season is approximately 225 days.
Can I fish at South Sugar Lake?
- Public access to South Sugar Lake is listed as no on the lake record, so confirm before you make the trip. 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 South Sugar Lake across LakeQuality
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
91 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
MNPCA91 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate