Ox Yoke Lake
Ox Yoke Lake in Cass County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 17.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 185.33 acres.
- Clarity
- 17.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 42 ft
- Area
- 185 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 17
- Open water
- 225 days
Next lake in Cass County
Why Ox Yoke 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 Ox Yoke Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. 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.
Ox Yoke Lake is a 185-acre lake in Cass County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 42 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-20. 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 Ox Yoke Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 17.5 ft down. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 17.5 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 Ox Yoke Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ox Yoke 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Ox Yoke Lake
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Water Temperature
Ox Yoke Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°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 38 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Ox Yoke Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 42 ft |
| Surface Area | 185 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 47% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Ox Yoke LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Ox Yoke Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-08-23 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 22.14 | 0.15 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 9.19 | 0.34 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 8.71 | 0.85 lb |
| Black Crappie | 4.55 | 0.37 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.40 | 1.73 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.73 | 0.15 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 Bass
Largemouth Bass
Black Crappie
From the 2022-08-23 survey
Ox Yoke Lake is a 187-acre lake with 2.87 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 42 feet located north of Backus, MN. A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources owned public access is located on the south shore. The MNDNR has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical and…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Ox Yoke Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Ox YokeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Ox Yoke (1144)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Ox YokePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.179 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (21 observations).
Estimated open water season: 225 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-19 (2024) | 2022-05-07 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-09 (2017) | 2001-12-03 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-17
EPA Impairment Status
Ox Yoke 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 MN11-0308-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.95 km)
Graded lakes near Ox Yoke Lake
Ox Yoke Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Ox Yoke Lake
What is the water quality grade for Ox Yoke Lake?
- Ox Yoke Lake in Cass County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 17.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 185.33 acres.
Is Ox Yoke Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Ox Yoke Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Ox Yoke Lake?
- Ox Yoke Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 38 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Ox Yoke Lake?
- Ox Yoke Lake has a maximum depth of 42 feet. The lake covers 185.33 acres.
What fish are in Ox Yoke Lake?
- Fish species found in Ox Yoke Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Ox Yoke Lake is located in Cass County, Minnesota.
When does Ox Yoke Lake thaw?
- Ox Yoke Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 17. Ice typically forms around Nov 28. The open water season is approximately 225 days.
Are there boat ramps on Ox Yoke Lake?
- Ox Yoke Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Ox Yoke Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
59 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA59 samples · 2020–2025
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