Little Sand Lake
Little Sand Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 413.29 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 12 ft
- Area
- 413 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 16
- Open water
- 215 days
Next lake in Cass County
Little Sand Lake is a 413-acre mesotrophic lake in Cass County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 12 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 10 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 103 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Little Sand Lake ranks #44 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 22.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 22.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Little Sand Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Sand 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.
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Water Temperature
Little Sand Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 42 field readings (2011–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Sand Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 413 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 99% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Little Sand LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Sand Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-05 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 56.12 | 0.11 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 9.13 | 0.1 lb |
| Black Crappie | 7.26 | 0.16 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 6.79 | 0.13 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.63 | 2.85 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 5.62 | 0.37 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
Black Crappie
Pumpkinseed
From the 2022-07-05 survey
Little Sand Lake is a 409-acre lake with 4 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 12 feet located north of Remer, MN. A DNR owned public access is located on the west shore. The DNR has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical and other characteristics. Little Sand is in…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Sand 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 SandFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Little Sand (1133)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little SandPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.57 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -5.9 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (12 observations).
Estimated open water season: 215 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2005-04-09 (2005) | 2008-04-24 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2006-11-03 (2006) | 2004-11-24 (2004) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-14
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Little Sand Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- RemerRemer · 3.2 mi away · NPDES MN0024589
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #44 of 104 lakes in Cass County
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Little Sand Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Sand Lake?
- Little Sand Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 413.29 acres.
Is Little Sand Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Little Sand Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 5.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Little Sand Lake?
- Little Sand Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 42 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Sand Lake?
- Little Sand Lake has a maximum depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 413.29 acres.
What fish are in Little Sand Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Sand Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Little Sand Lake is located in Cass County, Minnesota.
When does Little Sand Lake thaw?
- Little Sand Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 16. Ice typically forms around Nov 17. The open water season is approximately 215 days.
Are there boat ramps on Little Sand Lake?
- Little Sand Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Little Sand Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Little Sand Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
58 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA58 samples · 2023–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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