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Cass Lake Pike Bay reads lower on nutrients and algae than Lower Sucker Lake. Both are in Cass County, Minnesota.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated

Both Cass Lake Pike Bay and Lower Sucker Lake sit in Minnesota. A same-state comparison strips out the state-level water-quality regime as a variable: any differences in the readings here are about the lakes themselves, not the agencies sampling them. These two sit close on their nutrient and algae readings, Cass Lake Pike Bay versus Lower Sucker Lake. The deciding factors for a recreational visitor are likely physical (depth, access, fish species) rather than water-quality differences.

With readings this close, the choice between the two lakes turns on non-water-quality factors: depth, fish species, public access, distance from home. The per-lake pages below cover all of those.

Cass Lake Pike Bay

Cass County, Minnesota

Good clarity, visible to about 13.6 ft.

Lower Sucker Lake

Cass County, Minnesota

Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.3 ft.

Side-by-Side Metrics

MetricCass Lake Pike BayLower Sucker Lake
Water Clarity13.6 ft Better8.3 ft
Phosphorus10.5 µg/L Better21 µg/L
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)3.4 µg/L Better6.5 µg/L
Maximum Depth95 ft Better35 ft
Surface Area4,756 acres592 acres
Public AccessYesYes
Fish Species20 Better14
Trophic Statemesotrophicmesotrophic

A green ✓ marks the better value for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better). Surface area and trophic state carry no tick — a bigger lake is not a better lake.

Verdict

Cass Lake Pike Bay and Lower Sucker Lake read the same on nutrients and algae overall. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Cass Lake Pike Bay: 13.6 ft, Lower Sucker Lake: 8.3 ft) and what you want from the lake. Cass Lake Pike Bay supports more documented fish species.

Stays via Stay22

Where to stay near Cass Lake Pike Bay and Lower Sucker Lake

Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Cass Lake Pike Bay and Lower Sucker Lake. Both lakes are pinned on the map, so you can see which stays sit nearer the one you pick. Switch to Satellite to see how close each is to the water.

Top-rated places to stay near Cass Lake Pike Bay and Lower Sucker Lake

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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.