Big Bass Lake
Lake County, MichiganView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
↑ up from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Oxygen depletion (low DO)
- #5 of 7 in the county
Big Bass Lake in Lake County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 7.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 14.5 ft
- Typical in September
- 68°F
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 7.5 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 5.3 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Watch Big Bass Lake’s letter
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Big Bass Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Lake County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Lake herring. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Big Bass Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2023-09-19. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Big Bass Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water14.5 ft of visibility
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Big Bass Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 14.5 ft. Phosphorus 7.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 5.3 µg/L. TSI 40. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 7.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
Big Bass Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 65°F. Usually warmest in Sep (about 68°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 309 field readings (2021–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Big Bass Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Big Bass Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.131 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.17 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.8 µg/L/yr | 3 |
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 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601010101-03 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.91 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 7 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Big Bass Lake
Where is Big Bass Lake?
- Big Bass Lake is a lake in Lake County, Michigan. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Big Bass Lake?
- Big Bass Lake in Lake County, Michigan has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 14.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 7.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L.
Is Big Bass Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Big Bass Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Big Bass Lake?
- Big Bass Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September, from 309 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
What fish are in Big Bass Lake?
- Fish species found in Big Bass Lake include Lake herring. Big Bass Lake is located in Lake County, Michigan.
Explore Big Bass Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Lake County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
114 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2019–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- Michigan EGLE - MiCorps
21MICH_MICORPS114 samples · 2019–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
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