Bass Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Lake County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, and Iowa darter. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Bass Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Bass Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bass Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.441 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.8 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Bass Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 45 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 8 lakes in Lake County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Bass Lake holds Grade B. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Explore Bass Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Lake County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Manistee County · Clarity: 8 ft
Mason County · Clarity: 14 ft
Newaygo County · Clarity: 11.5 ft
Newaygo County · Clarity: 14.7 ft
Manistee County · Clarity: 13.8 ft
Manistee County · Clarity: 10 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Bass 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 MI040601010101-03 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.13 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2022-09-18
Monitoring stations: 1