Ball Club Lake
Ball Club Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 9.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 205.99 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 67°F
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 206 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Cook County
Ball Club Lake is a 206-acre mesotrophic lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including walleye, white sucker, and yellow perch. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 43 other monitored lakes in Cook County, Ball Club Lake ranks #39 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 16.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 16.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.6 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Ball Club Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ball Club Lake in Cook 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 Ball Club Lake
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Water Temperature
Ball Club Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 71°F) and coldest in Jun (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 25 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Ball Club Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 206 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 77% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Ball Club LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Ball Club Lake
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.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —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
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 |
EPA Impairment Status
Ball Club Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN16-0182-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #39 of 44 lakes in Cook County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Ball Club Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Ball Club Lake
What is the water quality grade for Ball Club Lake?
- Ball Club Lake in Cook County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 9.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 205.99 acres.
Is Ball Club Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Ball Club Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Ball Club Lake?
- Ball Club Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August, from 25 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Ball Club Lake?
- Ball Club Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 205.99 acres.
What fish are in Ball Club Lake?
- Fish species found in Ball Club Lake include walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Ball Club Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Ball Club Lake?
- Ball Club Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Ball Club Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Ball Club Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
17 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2024 - Eastern Regional Office
USFSEASTERN2 samples · 2021–2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory