Big Bass Lake
Big Bass Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 19.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 60 ft. Surface area: 132.5 acres.
- Clarity
- 19.4 ft
- Typical in August
- 65°F
- Max depth
- 60 ft
- Area
- 133 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 17
- Open water
- 226 days
Next lake in Hubbard County
Big Bass Lake is a 133-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 60 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and green sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in Hubbard County, Big Bass Lake ranks #33 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Crystal clear, you can see 19.4 ft down. Phosphorus level: 6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 34.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 19.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 6 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 34 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Big Bass Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Big Bass Lake in Hubbard 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.
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Water Temperature
Big Bass Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 62°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 65°F) and coldest in May (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 82 field readings (2021–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Big Bass Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 60 ft |
| Surface Area | 133 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.7 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 39% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Big Bass LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Big Bass Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-06-05 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 116.42 | — |
| Bluegill | 24.75 | 0.15 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 8.03 | 1.44 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 7.61 | 0.26 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 6.08 | 0.18 lb |
| BNS | 5.82 | — |
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
Smallmouth Bass
Hybrid Sunfish
Yellow Perch
From the 2023-06-05 survey
Big Bass is located three miles northeast of Akeley in Hubbard County. Big Bass has a surface area of 132 acres and a maximum depth of 60 feet. There is a state-owned public access located on the south shore of the lake. Big Bass provides fishing opportunities for Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, panfish, Northern…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Big 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 — Big BassFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Big Bass (1308)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Big BassFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Big BassPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.02 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (9 observations).
Estimated open water season: 226 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2005-04-11 (2005) | 2008-05-06 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-08 (2003) | 2004-11-29 (2004) |
Most recent ice-out: 2008-05-06
EPA Impairment Status
Big Bass Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN29-0036-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.52 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #33 of 68 lakes in Hubbard County
Nearby Lakes in Hubbard County
Frequently asked questions about Big Bass Lake
What is the water quality grade for Big Bass Lake?
- Big Bass Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 19.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 60 ft. Surface area: 132.5 acres.
Is Big Bass Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Big Bass Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 1.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Big Bass Lake?
- Big Bass Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August, from 82 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Big Bass Lake?
- Big Bass Lake has a maximum depth of 60 feet. The lake covers 132.5 acres.
What fish are in Big Bass Lake?
- Fish species found in Big Bass Lake include black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Big Bass Lake is located in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
When does Big Bass Lake thaw?
- Big Bass Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 17. Ice typically forms around Nov 29. The open water season is approximately 226 days.
Are there boat ramps on Big Bass Lake?
- Big Bass Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Big Bass Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Big Bass Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
16 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA16 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate