Ball Club Lake
Cook County, MinnesotaMesotrophic
Ball Club Lake carries a solid B grade — strong on most parameters, with measurements that hold up well across the summer season. Clarity is the limiting factor — phosphorus is reasonable but suspended particles or algal cells keep water transparency below Minnesota norms.
A TSI near 45 places Ball Club Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. The lake bottoms out at 25 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. At 206 acres, Ball Club Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 6.6 miles of shoreline. Ball Club Lake ranks 53 of 128 in Cook County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.
No invasive species are currently listed at Ball Club Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. Walleye are documented at Ball Club Lake, one of 3 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Ball Club Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 16.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.5 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | 16.5 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 205.99 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 77% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Ball Club Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Ball Club Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Ball Club Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -3.219 m/yr | 3 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #53 of 128 lakes in Cook County
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Ball Club Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-25 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| GOS | 83.05 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 6.14 | 0.12 lb |
| Walleye | 5.48 | 1.33 lb |
| White Sucker | 3.97 | 1.82 lb |
| BNS | 2.00 | — |
| Northern Pike | 1.16 | 1.64 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.
Yellow Perch
Walleye
White Sucker
Northern Pike
From the 2022-07-25 survey
Ball Club Lake is located about 20 miles from the City of Grand Marais and can be accessed from the Ball Club Lake Road, a well-maintained gravel road north of Two Island Lake. There is a concrete boat launch at the lake and a small camping area, with parking for six or seven vehicles. There is no development on the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Ball Club Lake. 3 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Ball ClubFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Ball Club (1606)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Ball ClubPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2024-09-18
Monitoring stations: 2