Grave Lake
Cass County, MinnesotaLimited DataOligotrophic
Grave Lake earns an A — every scored parameter (clarity) rates among the best monitored waters in Cass County.
The lake's low TSI puts it in oligotrophic territory — the cleanest of the four trophic classes, but also the most vulnerable to nutrient-driven shifts. Grave Lake is unusually deep for Minnesota at 55 ft, which buffers the lake against summer warming and helps the deep water stay oxygenated. At 373 acres, Grave Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 6.2 miles of shoreline. Grave Lake ranks 35 of 132 in Cass County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.
No invasive species are currently listed at Grave Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 8 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
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
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 17.2 ft down. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 17.2 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 55 ft |
| Surface Area | 372.81 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 35% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Grave Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Grave Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Grave Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.133 m/yr | 2 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #35 of 132 lakes in Cass County
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Grave Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
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.
- —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
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2021-09-08
Monitoring stations: 1