Living on Daggett Lake
Daggett is the chain's in-between lake: a winding, mid-size water linking Cross Lake to Little Pine, with a lot of shoreline for its acreage.
Look at Daggett Lake on a map and the first thing you notice is the shoreline. The lake covers 258 acres, yet its shore runs 7.52 miles, curling into bays and around points. That shape gives many homes a sense of their own small cove, while the boat ride to the bigger lakes stays short.
If you are picturing life here, this is what the water and the setting are like, drawn from the DNR's own work on Daggett.
Curious about Daggett homes, including some that never reach the open market? Start on the buyer page.
The water
Daggett reaches 23 feet at its deepest, and about 53 percent of the lake is 15 feet or shallower. Water clarity on the site's baseline figure is about 8.8 feet. The DNR classifies Daggett as eutrophic, meaning it is naturally rich in nutrients and grows plants and fish well.
Plants are present but less dense than on many chain lakes. In the DNR's 2010 lakeshore work, Daggett had the lowest plant frequency on the chain in the shore-to-20-foot zone, and the DNR noted that sand bottom was common in the windswept open areas. Floating-leaf and emergent beds covered about 16 acres, and no wild rice was recorded. Coontail, northern watermilfoil, flat-stem pondweed and curly-leaf pondweed are among the plants you will see.
Two realities every owner here should know: curly-leaf pondweed, a non-native plant, grows in Daggett, and the lake is listed as infested with zebra mussels. Both are shared with other lakes on the chain, and both are reasons to be careful about cleaning boats and lifts.
Shoreline character
With so much shore for its size, Daggett's frontages vary widely. Some face open water and the prevailing wind, where sand is more common. Others sit tucked in bays, out of the wind, where the bottom can differ from the open shore. The DNR recorded 37 bird species on Daggett in its lakeshore survey, and wild calla, a less common wetland plant, was found at three sites.
Boating routes on the chain
Daggett is a water link on the east side of the Whitefish Chain. The DNR describes Daggett Brook entering the north end of Little Pine Lake and flowing southwest through Daggett and Cross Lake Reservoir to the Pine River. In practical terms, that means Daggett opens to Cross Lake on one side and Little Pine on the other.
From Cross Lake, boaters can reach the rest of the chain, including Rush-Hen and Lower Whitefish. The whole system's water level is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Pine River Dam at Cross Lake's outlet, which first operated in 1886 and joined the lakes into one chain.
Quiet or busy?
Because Daggett connects two lakes, boats pass through, especially on summer weekends. The many bays give owners a place to step back from that traffic. Mornings, evenings and the shoulder seasons are noticeably calmer, and any posted slow-speed areas are worth learning early.
Town services
Crosslake, Fifty Lakes and Emily are the nearby communities. Crosslake is the main service town for the chain, with groceries, restaurants, hardware, marinas and the Crosslake Recreation Area at the dam. Brainerd and Baxter, farther south, cover larger errands and medical care.
Questions
How deep is Daggett Lake?
Daggett's maximum depth is 23 feet, and about 53 percent of the lake is 15 feet or shallower.
Which lakes can I reach by boat from Daggett?
Daggett opens to Cross Lake and Little Pine Lake, and from Cross Lake you can travel to the rest of the Whitefish Chain.
Is the bottom on Daggett sandy or soft?
Both. The DNR noted sand was common in the windswept open areas, and the bottom elsewhere varies from lot to lot. Check each frontage in person.
More on this lake: Daggett Lake guide, Daggett fishing guide, buying on Daggett, and all Whitefish Chain lakes.
I have a family cabin on the Whitefish Chain in Crosslake and would be glad to show you Daggett from the water. Call or text 218.513.2677 or email david@whitefishpropertyfinder.com.
Sources: Minnesota DNR, Aquatic Vegetation Survey of Little Pine and Daggett Lakes (2009); Minnesota DNR, Sensitive Lakeshore Survey, Whitefish Chain of Lakes; Minnesota DNR LakeFinder.