Cass Lake Pike Bay
Cass County, Minnesota4,756 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- zebra mussel
- #87 of 104 in the county
- 95 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Cass Lake Pike Bay in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 95 ft. Surface area: 4756.39 acres.
- Clarity
- 13.6 ft
- Typical in September
- 57°F
- Max depth
- 95 ft
- Area
- 4,756 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 10.5 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 3.4 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 25
- Open water
- 221 days
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Cass Lake Pike Bay is a 4,756-acre mesotrophic lake in Cass County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 95 feet (25-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 3 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 20 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 103 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Cass Lake Pike Bay ranks #87 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Cass Lake Pike Bay is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water13.6 ft of visibility
- Fishing20 species recorded
- Camping4 public campgrounds nearby
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 25
- Deep water95 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water4,756 acres
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.
The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 13.6 ft. Phosphorus 10.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.4 µg/L. TSI 40. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
Cass Lake Pike Bay typically sits around 57°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 57°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 59°F) and coldest in May (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 216 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Cass Lake Pike Bay water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 95 ft |
| Average Depth | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 4,756 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 11 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 47% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near Cass Lake Pike Bay
- Cass Lake3.3 km
- South Pike Bay Recreation Area3.9 km
- Norway Beach Loop3.9 km
- Chippewa Loop4.5 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Cass Lake Pike Bay
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (13 observations).
Estimated open water season: 221 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-18 (2024) | 2008-05-11 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2007-11-24 (2007) | 2024-01-07 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-04-25
County Ranking
Ranked #87 of 104 lakes in Cass County
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Cass Lake Pike Bay
Where is Cass Lake Pike Bay?
- Cass Lake Pike Bay is a lake in Cass County, Minnesota. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Cass Lake Pike Bay?
- Cass Lake Pike Bay in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 95 ft. Surface area: 4756.39 acres.
Is Cass Lake Pike Bay safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Cass Lake Pike Bay?
- Cass Lake Pike Bay typically sits around 57°F at the surface in September, from 216 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Cass Lake Pike Bay?
- Cass Lake Pike Bay has a maximum depth of 95 feet and an average depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 4756.39 acres.
What fish are in Cass Lake Pike Bay?
- Fish species found in Cass Lake Pike Bay include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, burbot, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, lake whitefish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Cass Lake Pike Bay is located in Cass County, Minnesota.
When does Cass Lake Pike Bay thaw?
- Cass Lake Pike Bay typically has ice-out around Apr 25. Ice typically forms around Dec 2. The open water season is approximately 221 days.
Are there campgrounds on Cass Lake Pike Bay?
- Cass Lake Pike Bay has 4 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Cass Lake, South Pike Bay Recreation Area, Norway Beach Loop, Chippewa Loop. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Cass Lake Pike Bay across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Cass County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
24 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX24 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Nitrate-Nitrite Nitrogen by Colorimetry
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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate