Bass Lake
Bass Lake in Cass County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 194.75 acres.
- Max depth
- 55 ft
- Area
- 195 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Cass County
Why Bass Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Bass Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a), but not water clarity.
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Bass Lake is a 195-acre lake in Cass County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 55 feet. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and hybrid sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-06-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Bass Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 9 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Bass Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bass Lake in Cass 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 Bass Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 55 ft |
| Surface Area | 195 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 22% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Big Bass LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bass Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-25 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 42.89 | 0.09 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 24.61 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 16.83 | 0.8 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 14.00 | 1 lb |
| BNS | 13.61 | — |
| GOS | 12.44 | — |
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
Largemouth Bass
Tullibee (Cisco)
From the 2023-07-25 survey
Bass Lake is a 194 acre lake, with a maximum depth of 55', located six miles north of Outing in Cass County. Bass is in the Mississippi River-Grand Rapids watershed. A nearshore survey was conducted to assess the populations of both game and non-game fish species. Ten 100' long sampling stations were evenly spaced…
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
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Bass (1550)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BassPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Graded lakes near Bass Lake
Bass Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Bass Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bass Lake?
- Bass Lake in Cass County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 194.75 acres.
Is Bass Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Bass Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Bass Lake?
- Bass Lake has a maximum depth of 55 feet. The lake covers 194.75 acres.
What fish are in Bass Lake?
- Fish species found in Bass Lake include black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Bass Lake is located in Cass County, Minnesota.
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 Big Bass Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bass Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
2 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA2 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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