Little Bass Lake
Lake County, WisconsinOligotrophic
Little Bass Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Lake County, MI. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Lake herring. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Little Bass Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2023-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 18.3 ft down. Chlorophyll-a: 3.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 18.3 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.1 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Little Bass Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Little Bass Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Little Bass Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 8 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Wisconsin
Mecosta County · Clarity: 12.8 ft
Benzie County · Clarity: 13.5 ft
Clare County · Clarity: 15 ft
Kalkaska County · Clarity: 16 ft
Gogebic County · Clarity: 18 ft
Iron County · Clarity: 16 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
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 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MI040601010101-03 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.34 km)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-09-15
Monitoring stations: 1