Big Bass Lake
Lake County, MichiganView mapDirections
EGLE publishes the water-quality measurements for Big Bass Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Oxygen depletion (low DO)
Big Bass Lake in Lake County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 7.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.3 µg/L.
Big Bass Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Lake County, Michigan. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Big Bass Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Big Bass Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water14.5 ft of visibility
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are 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.
Whether Big Bass Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Big Bass Lake
These are the measurements EGLE publishes for Big Bass Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 14.5 ft. Phosphorus 7.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 5.3 µg/L. TSI 40.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 14.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 7.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 5.3µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 40 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Big Bass Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (57°F) to its warmest (68°F).
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 →
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Big Bass Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Big Bass Lake in Lake County, Michigan — 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 Big Bass Lake
Prices for Oct 23–25, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Michigan’s top lakes →
Follow Big Bass Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Big Bass Lake
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2019–2023).
Water clarity
Stable5 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.17 µg/L/yr4 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-3.8 µg/L/yr3 years
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
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601010101-03 · Official waterbody report
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. Its water-quality measurements are published by EGLE and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Big Bass Lake?
- Big Bass Lake in Lake County, Michigan has water-quality measurements published by EGLE, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are 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 the cleanest 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 readings
Michigan's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Michigan
Other Lakes in Michigan
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database