Basswood Lake

Basswood Lake sits at a C on the grading scale — not impaired, not pristine, with summer measurements that vary year to year.

The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Minnesota lakes fall. Basswood Lake is unusually deep for Minnesota at 111 ft, which buffers the lake against summer warming and helps the deep water stay oxygenated. At 25,953 acres, Basswood Lake is one of the larger lakes in Lake County, with 332.6 miles of shoreline supporting multiple distinct use patterns. Within Lake County's 142 graded lakes, Basswood Lake ranks 94 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

Basswood Lake has at least one documented invasive species (spiny waterflea), so boaters and anglers should observe clean-drain-dry steps when leaving the lake. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 14 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. No formal public access is documented at Basswood Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. The lake has a partial ice record — 6 observed ice-outs, centered near May 5. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.