Bass Lake
Bass Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 18.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 65 ft. Surface area: 121.69 acres.
- Clarity
- 18.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 64°F
- Max depth
- 65 ft
- Area
- 122 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Itasca County
Bass Lake is a 122-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 65 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2021. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including bluegill, largemouth bass, and northern pike. Public access is available. Compared to the 71 other monitored lakes in Itasca County, Bass Lake ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-14. 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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Crystal clear, you can see 18.2 ft down. Phosphorus level: 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 18.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 8 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | 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 Itasca 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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Water Temperature
Bass Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 62°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 64°F) and coldest in May (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 62 field readings (2021–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bass Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 65 ft |
| Surface Area | 122 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 27% |
| Public Access | Yes |
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.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2020-07-20 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 6.94 | 0.21 lb |
| Rock Bass | 6.82 | 0.28 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 4.04 | 0.15 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 3.81 | 1.09 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.43 | 1.97 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 1.59 | 0.43 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
Rock Bass
Yellow Perch
Smallmouth Bass
From the 2020-07-20 survey
Bass Lake is unique, having the entire shoreline in county ownership and interspersed with camp sites. There is a modest earthen access on the west shore. The lake is small, 117 acres, with about a quarter of it less than 15 feet and a maximum depth of 65 feet. Lake types similar to Bass have moderate to low…
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 (0646)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BassPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
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 MN31-0316-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 72 lakes in Itasca County
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Bass Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bass Lake?
- Bass Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 18.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 65 ft. Surface area: 121.69 acres.
Is Bass Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Bass Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Bass Lake?
- Bass Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August, from 62 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Bass Lake?
- Bass Lake has a maximum depth of 65 feet. The lake covers 121.69 acres.
What fish are in Bass Lake?
- Fish species found in Bass Lake include bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, rock bass, smallmouth bass, white sucker, yellow perch. Bass Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
Explore Bass Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
16 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA16 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 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