Little Wolf Lake
Little Wolf Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 524.59 acres.
- Clarity
- 7 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 24 ft
- Area
- 525 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 11
Next lake in Cass County
Little Wolf Lake is a 525-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Cass County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 24 feet (12-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available. Compared to the 103 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Little Wolf Lake ranks #101 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 onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus level: 26.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 12.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 26.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 12.7 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Little Wolf Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Wolf 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 Wolf Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 65 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Wolf Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 24 ft |
| Average Depth | 11.9 ft |
| Surface Area | 525 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 47% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Wolf Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-05 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 56.63 | 0.13 lb |
| IOD | 55.14 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 14.70 | 1.01 lb |
| Bluegill | 9.76 | 0.21 lb |
| Muskellunge | 8.27 | 8.93 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 8.11 | — |
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.
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Muskellunge
From the 2024-08-05 survey
Little Wolf Lake is a 528-acre lake with a maximum depth of 24 feet located near the town of Cass Lake on the Hubbard/Cass county line. The public access is township-owned and located on the northwest side of the lake. The unimproved ramp results in limited access for larger boats due to landing design, water depths…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Wolf 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 WolfFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Little WolfFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little WolfPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -1.3 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +7 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +7.4 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (6 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-17 (2024) | 2022-05-07 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2023-11-28 (2023) | 2024-11-30 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-22
County Ranking
Ranked #101 of 104 lakes in Cass County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Little Wolf Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Little Wolf Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Wolf Lake?
- Little Wolf Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 524.59 acres.
Is Little Wolf Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Little Wolf Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 12.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Little Wolf Lake?
- Little Wolf Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 65 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Wolf Lake?
- Little Wolf Lake has a maximum depth of 24 feet and an average depth of 11.9 feet. The lake covers 524.59 acres.
What fish are in Little Wolf Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Wolf Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Little Wolf Lake is located in Cass County, Minnesota.
When does Little Wolf Lake thaw?
- Little Wolf Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 11.
Explore Little Wolf Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Cass County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Pine River Watersheds (Brainerd Lakes), ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Little Wolf Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Little Wolf Lake With Nearby Lakes
Beltrami County · Grade A
Beltrami County · Grade C
Cass County · Grade A
Hubbard County · Grade B
Beltrami County · Grade A
Beltrami County · Grade C
Where this data comes from
30 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA30 samples · 2024–2025
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate