Little Bass Lake
Little Bass Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 17.7 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 62 ft. Surface area: 160.5 acres.
- Clarity
- 17.7 ft
- Max depth
- 62 ft
- Area
- 161 acres
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 21
- Open water
- 221 days
Next lake in Itasca County
Why Little Bass 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 Little Bass Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). 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.
Little Bass Lake is a 161-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 62 feet. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-08-20. 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 Little Bass Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 17.7 ft down. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 17.7 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 Little Bass Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Bass Lake in Itasca 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 Little Bass Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 62 ft |
| Surface Area | 161 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 34% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Bass Lake (Southwest)Public
- Little Bass LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Bass Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-06 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 15.72 | 0.23 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 4.59 | 0.78 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.47 | 2.03 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 3.94 | 1.08 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.52 | 0.19 lb |
| Rock Bass | 2.37 | 0.38 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
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
Tullibee (Cisco)
From the 2025-08-06 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Little Bass Lake on August 6th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this…
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 (0596)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little BassPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (93 observations).
Estimated open water season: 221 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-03-27 (2012) | 2013-05-14 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 1997-11-16 (1997) | 2015-12-19 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2018-05-05
EPA Impairment Status
Little Bass Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN31-0575-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Little Bass Lake
Little Bass Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Itasca County
Frequently asked questions about Little Bass Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Bass Lake?
- Little Bass Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 17.7 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 62 ft. Surface area: 160.5 acres.
Is Little Bass Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Little Bass 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 Little Bass Lake?
- Little Bass Lake has a maximum depth of 62 feet. The lake covers 160.5 acres.
What fish are in Little Bass Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Bass Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Little Bass Lake is located in Itasca County, Minnesota.
When does Little Bass Lake thaw?
- Little Bass Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 21. Ice typically forms around Nov 28. The open water season is approximately 221 days.
Are there boat ramps on Little Bass Lake?
- Little Bass Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bass Lake (Southwest), Little Bass Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA1 sample · 2024
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate