Bass Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric, Bass Lake pulls an A: clarity at 13.1 ft and 10 µg/L of phosphorus put it in the top bracket for Minnesota. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

Trophically, Bass Lake reads as oligotrophic — nutrient-poor, clear, and ecologically more sensitive to disturbance than richer lakes. Bass Lake reaches 26 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. Bass Lake covers 735 acres alongside 10.7 miles of shoreline — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Within Mahnomen County's 16 graded waters, Bass Lake sits at rank 1, near the top of the local distribution.

Bass Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2023, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 13 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.