Lower Sucker Lake
Lower Sucker Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 591.84 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 63°F
- Max depth
- 35 ft
- Area
- 592 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Cass County
Lower Sucker Lake is a 592-acre mesotrophic lake in Cass County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 35 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 103 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Lower Sucker Lake ranks #79 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-07. 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 8.3 ft. Phosphorus level: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Lower Sucker Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lower Sucker 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
Lower Sucker Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 61°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 63°F) and coldest in May (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 261 field readings (2023–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lower Sucker Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 35 ft |
| Surface Area | 592 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 51% |
| 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 Lower Sucker Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-01 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 45.62 | 0.14 lb |
| CNM | 17.89 | — |
| BKF | 17.66 | — |
| FND | 12.78 | — |
| BCS | 10.41 | — |
| Black Crappie | 5.27 | 0.66 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.
Yellow Perch
Black Crappie
From the 2024-07-01 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Lower Sucker Lake, which is located wholly within the Leech Lake Reservation, was conducted on July 1-3, 2024, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Lower Sucker Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Lower SuckerFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Lower Sucker (1624)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Lower SuckerFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Lower SuckerPublic 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 | -0.16 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2.7 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #79 of 104 lakes in Cass County
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Lower Sucker Lake
What is the water quality grade for Lower Sucker Lake?
- Lower Sucker Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 591.84 acres.
Is Lower Sucker Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Lower Sucker Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lower Sucker Lake?
- Lower Sucker Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August, from 261 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lower Sucker Lake?
- Lower Sucker Lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet. The lake covers 591.84 acres.
What fish are in Lower Sucker Lake?
- Fish species found in Lower Sucker Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Lower Sucker Lake is located in Cass County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
78 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2023–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX48 samples · 2023–2024 - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA30 samples · 2023–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Nitrate-Nitrite Nitrogen by Colorimetry
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