Bass Lake
Bass Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 33.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 182.47 acres.
- Clarity
- 4 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 31 ft
- Area
- 182 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 2
- Open water
- 236 days
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Bass Lake →
Next lake in Hennepin County
Bass Lake is a 182-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 31 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Bass Lake ranks #61 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft. Phosphorus level: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 33.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 34 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 33.2 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Bass Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bass Lake in Hennepin 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Bass Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Bass Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Bass Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 73°F) and coldest in Oct (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 385 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bass Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 31 ft |
| Surface Area | 182 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 78% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bass Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-08-15 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 76.64 | 0.2 lb |
| Bluegill | 61.79 | 0.17 lb |
| Black Crappie | 12.22 | 0.16 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 8.91 | 0.1 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 5.98 | 0.18 lb |
| GOS | 5.95 | 0.16 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
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
Hybrid Sunfish
From the 2023-08-15 survey
Bass Lake is a 182-acre lake with a maximum depth of 31 feet. The lake is in the city of Plymouth in central Hennepin County. No public boat access exists, however limited shore fishing opportunities are available via the Timber Shores Park walking trails. A targeted survey (6 trap nets/2 gill nets) was completed on…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bass Lake. 1 report 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
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.16 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.67 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +8.01 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (26 observations).
Estimated open water season: 236 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-03 (2024) | 2008-04-20 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-13 (2018) | 2003-12-06 (2003) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-27
EPA Impairment Status
Bass Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN27-0111-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.29 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #61 of 81 lakes in Hennepin County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Bass Lake holds Grade F. 3 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 Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Bass Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bass Lake?
- Bass Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 33.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 182.47 acres.
Is Bass Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Bass Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 33.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Bass Lake?
- Bass Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 385 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Bass Lake?
- Bass Lake has a maximum depth of 31 feet. The lake covers 182.47 acres.
What fish are in Bass Lake?
- Fish species found in Bass Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow perch. Bass Lake is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
When does Bass Lake thaw?
- Bass Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 2. Ice typically forms around Nov 24. The open water season is approximately 236 days.
Explore Bass Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
229 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA229 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate