Bass Lake
Bass Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 204.16 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.9 ft
- Max depth
- 28 ft
- Area
- 204 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 22
- Open water
- 222 days
Next lake in Becker County
Bass Lake is a 204-acre mesotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 28 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 9 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Bass Lake ranks #58 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-06. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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 7.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 8.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.2 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Bass Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bass Lake in Becker 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 28 ft |
| Surface Area | 204 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 56% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Bass LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bass Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-28 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 19.47 | 0.16 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 17.11 | — |
| BKF | 10.42 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 9.00 | 0.12 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 7.23 | 1.09 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.97 | 0.18 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.
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Brown Bullhead
Pumpkinseed
From the 2025-07-28 survey
Bass Lake is a 204-acre, class-29 lake located in northeastern Becker County approximately 10 miles north of Ponsford, MN. The lake lies within the boundaries of the White Earth Indian Reservation and is within the Mississippi River watershed. The lake's shoreline is lightly developed, with ten homes or cottages and…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bass Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BassFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BassFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BassPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.2 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.95 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (61 observations).
Estimated open water season: 222 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 1981-04-08 (1981) | 1979-05-11 (1979) |
| Ice-In | 2005-11-19 (2005) | 1998-12-19 (1998) |
Most recent ice-out: 2007-04-22
County Ranking
Ranked #58 of 84 lakes in Becker County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Bass 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.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Bass Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bass Lake?
- Bass Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 204.16 acres.
Is Bass Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Bass Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 8.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Bass Lake?
- Bass Lake has a maximum depth of 28 feet. The lake covers 204.16 acres.
What fish are in Bass Lake?
- Fish species found in Bass Lake include black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Bass Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
When does Bass Lake thaw?
- Bass Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 22. Ice typically forms around Nov 30. The open water season is approximately 222 days.
Are there boat ramps on Bass Lake?
- Bass Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bass Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bass Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
49 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (White Earth Band) (Tribal)
WEARTH_WQX34 samples · 2024 - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate