George Lake
Cass County, Minnesota612 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for George Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- 20 ft max depth
- Public access
George Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 612.45 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 2, 2025 caught 15.50 northern pike per gill net at George Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–26 inches. DNR survey details →
George Lake is a 612-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cass County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 20 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 103 other monitored lakes in Cass County, George Lake ranks #89 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-13. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What George Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing11 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyModerate 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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether George Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for George Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for George Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft. Phosphorus 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 7.3 µg/L. TSI 54.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 40µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 7.3µg/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. | 54 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about George Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
George Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 70°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 71°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (56°F) to its warmest (71°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 59 field readings (2023–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full George Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for George Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was low (13,677 cells/mL) on November 15, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 2, 2025 caught 15.50 northern pike per gill net at George Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–26 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows George Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-02 (Standard Survey).
4 surveys on file · most recent 2025-06-02 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Bullhead | 66.09 | 4–11 in 2025-06-02 | 0.21 lb |
| Bluegill | 11.18 | 4–8 in 2025-06-02 | 0.33 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 10.52 | 5–7 in 2025-06-02 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 9.75 | 5–8 in 2025-06-02 | 0.38 lb |
| Golden Shiner | 5.55 | ||
| Northern Pike | 5.17 | 13–26 in 2025-06-02 | 1.37 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Brown Bullhead
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Black Bullhead
From the 2025-06-02 survey
George is a 612-acre lake near the city of Outing in Cass County. It has a DNR owned access, with a concrete ramp, on the south end of the lake. A standard survey using gill nets and trap nets was conducted in June 2025 to assess fish populations from recent winterkill events and provide information to anglers.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for George Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GeorgeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — George (1521)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — GeorgeFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — GeorgePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
20 ft
Surface area
612 acres
Shoreline
6.8 mi
Littoral zone
99%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
30 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,312 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake GeorgePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near George Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near George Lake in Cass 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.
Top-rated places to stay near George Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 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 Minnesota’s top lakes →
Follow George 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 George Lake
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-5.5 µg/L/yr2 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-3.5 µg/L/yr2 years
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about George Lake
Where is George Lake?
- George Lake is a lake in Cass County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of George Lake?
- George Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 612.45 acres.
Is George Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of George Lake?
- George Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September, from 59 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is George Lake?
- George Lake has a maximum depth of 20 feet. The lake covers 612.45 acres.
What fish are in George Lake?
- Fish species found in George Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. George Lake is located in Cass County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at George Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 2, 2025 caught 15.50 northern pike per gill net at George Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–26 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows George Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Does George Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for George Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was low (13,677 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on George Lake?
- George Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake George. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at George Lake?
- George Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore George Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Cass County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Brainerd Lakes area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Pine River Watersheds (Brainerd Lakes), ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare George Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
59 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA59 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory