Little Bass Lake
Little Bass Lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 50.54 acres.
- Max depth
- 35 ft
- Area
- 51 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Clearwater County
Little Bass Lake is a 51-acre mesotrophic lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 35 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 36 other monitored lakes in Clearwater County, Little Bass Lake ranks #28 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.4 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Little Bass Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Bass Lake in Clearwater 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 35 ft |
| Surface Area | 51 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.6 mi |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Little Bass LakePublic
Fishing Little Bass Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1977-08-10 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 44.50 | 0.08 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 10.50 | 0.53 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 6.63 | 0.1 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 5.25 | 0.1 lb |
| Black Crappie | 5.00 | 0.16 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.88 | 0.83 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1977-08-10 survey
N Pike pop. twice the region mean. Yel Perch lower than region mean. LM Bass 3 times state average. Panfish population quite high but fish are small.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Bass Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little BassFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Little Bass (1335)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little BassPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
County Ranking
Ranked #28 of 37 lakes in Clearwater County
Nearby Lakes in Clearwater County
Frequently asked questions about Little Bass Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Bass Lake?
- Little Bass Lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 50.54 acres.
Is Little Bass Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Little Bass Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Little Bass Lake?
- Little Bass Lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet. The lake covers 50.54 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Little Bass Lake?
- Little Bass Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Little Bass Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Little Bass Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
18 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (White Earth Band) (Tribal)
WEARTH_WQX18 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory