Bass Lake

Bass Lake sits at a C on the grading scale — not impaired, not pristine, with summer measurements that vary year to year. With clarity and phosphorus scored, the sub-grades cluster within a letter of each other, pointing to stable conditions rather than one specific stressor.

At a TSI of 54, Bass Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. The lake bottoms out at 36 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. At 311 acres, Bass Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 5.6 miles of shoreline. Bass Lake ranks 83 of 97 in Otter Tail County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

Bass Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2024, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 7 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.