Bass Lake
Bass Lake in Pine County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8.3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 228.48 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.3 ft
- Typical in July
- 77°F
- Max depth
- 24 ft
- Area
- 228 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Pine County
Why Bass Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Bass Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Bass Lake is a 228-acre lake in Pine County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 24 feet (12-foot average). Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Bass Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.3 ft. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Bass Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bass Lake in Pine 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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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Bass Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in July. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Sep (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 13 field readings (2016–2016) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bass Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 24 ft |
| Average Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 228 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 65% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Grindstone LakePublic
- Bass LakePublic
- Lake ElevenPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bass Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2019-09-09 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 19.37 | 0.09 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 9.43 | 0.39 lb |
| SUN | 5.85 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 5.77 | 1.17 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.39 | 1.81 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 3.23 | 0.45 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
Brown Bullhead
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
From the 2019-09-09 survey
Bass Lake is a small, moderately fertile lake located in northeastern Kanabec and western Pine counties. Although much of the lake is less the 15 feet, water clarity is higher than most area lakes. During the week of September 9, 2019 Bass Lake was surveyed to evaluate the present fish population. Sampling consisted…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bass Lake. 4 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 (0351)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BassFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BassPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.15 m/yr | 2 |
Graded lakes near Bass Lake
Bass Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Pine County
Frequently asked questions about Bass Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bass Lake?
- Bass Lake in Pine County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8.3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 228.48 acres.
Is Bass Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Bass Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Bass Lake?
- Bass Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in July, from 13 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2016). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Bass Lake?
- Bass Lake has a maximum depth of 24 feet and an average depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 228.48 acres.
What fish are in Bass Lake?
- Fish species found in Bass Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Bass Lake is located in Pine County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Bass Lake?
- Bass Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Grindstone Lake, Bass Lake, Lake Eleven. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bass Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
10 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA10 samples · 2020–2021
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory