South Wigwam Lake
Lake County, Minnesota63 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for South Wigwam Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- 6 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
South Wigwam Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 6 ft. Surface area: 62.88 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 11, 2018 caught 0.67 walleye per gill net at South Wigwam Lake. DNR survey details →
South Wigwam Lake is a 63-acre lake in Lake County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 6 feet. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including black crappie, northern pike, and walleye. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-08-01. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What South Wigwam Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing5 species recorded
Swimming conditions
No readingLimited data
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether South Wigwam 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 Wigwam Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for South Wigwam 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 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.7 µg/L. TSI 47.
| 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 | 15µg/L | Measured, not scored The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 4.7µg/L | Measured, not scored The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 47 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about South Wigwam Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 11, 2018 caught 0.67 walleye per gill net at South Wigwam Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows South Wigwam Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2018-06-11 (Standard Survey).
4 surveys on file · most recent 2018-06-11 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Sucker | 8.79 | 11–22 in 2018-06-11 | 2.36 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 8.53 | 4–8 in 2018-06-11 | 0.17 lb |
| Golden Shiner | 5.66 | ||
| Northern Pike | 5.08 | 8–27 in 2018-06-11 | 1.4 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.
White Sucker
Yellow Perch
Northern Pike
From the 2018-06-11 survey
South Wigwam Lake is located 11 miles northwest of Schroeder in the Superior National Forest. There is a short carry in access to the outlet channel off of the Wigwam Lake Road (USFS Rd. #1226). Contact the USFS Tofte district or check the Superior NF website https://www.fs.usda.gov/superior for information on camping…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for South Wigwam Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — South WigwamFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — South Wigwam (0993)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
6 ft
Surface area
63 acres
Shoreline
1.5 mi
Littoral zone
100%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
5 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,654 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
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Stays near South Wigwam Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing South Wigwam Lake
- → South Wigwam Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → South Wigwam Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → South Wigwam Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from South Wigwam Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about South Wigwam Lake
Where is South Wigwam Lake?
- South Wigwam Lake is a lake in Lake 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 Wigwam Lake?
- South Wigwam Lake in Lake County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 6 ft. Surface area: 62.88 acres.
Is South Wigwam Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is South Wigwam Lake?
- South Wigwam Lake has a maximum depth of 6 feet. The lake covers 62.88 acres.
What fish are in South Wigwam Lake?
- Fish species found in South Wigwam Lake include black crappie, northern pike, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. South Wigwam Lake is located in Lake County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at South Wigwam Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 11, 2018 caught 0.67 walleye per gill net at South Wigwam Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows South Wigwam Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Can I fish at South Wigwam Lake?
- Public access to South Wigwam Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. 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.
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Where this data comes from
5 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA5 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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