Grave Lake
Grave Lake in Cass County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 17.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 372.81 acres.
- Clarity
- 17.2 ft
- Max depth
- 55 ft
- Area
- 373 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Cass County
Why Grave Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Grave Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Grave Lake is a 373-acre lake in Cass County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 55 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including bluegill, hybrid sunfish, and largemouth bass. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-08. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Grave Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 17.2 ft down. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 17.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Grave Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Grave 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 Grave Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 55 ft |
| Surface Area | 373 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 35% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Grave Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-06-16 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 15.37 | 0.15 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 5.56 | 0.12 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.27 | 2.02 lb |
| Rock Bass | 3.76 | 0.3 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 1.54 | 0.21 lb |
| Walleye | 1.48 | 1.89 lb |
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
Yellow Perch
Northern Pike
Rock Bass
From the 2021-06-16 survey
Grave Lake (DOW# 11-0086; Lake Class 23) is a 372-acre lake with located near Remer, MN. There is a DNR owned public access on the northeast shore. The lake has 132 littoral acres, 6.20 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 55 feet. The DNR has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different classes based on…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Grave Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GraveFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Grave (1493)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — GraveFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — GravePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.196 m/yr | 3 |
Graded lakes near Grave Lake
Grave Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Grave Lake
What is the water quality grade for Grave Lake?
- Grave Lake in Cass County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 17.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 372.81 acres.
Is Grave Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Grave Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Grave Lake?
- Grave Lake has a maximum depth of 55 feet. The lake covers 372.81 acres.
What fish are in Grave Lake?
- Fish species found in Grave Lake include bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, yellow perch. Grave Lake is located in Cass County, Minnesota.
Explore Grave Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
4 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
MNPCA4 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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