Pine Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric, Pine Lake pulls an A: clarity at 16.0 ft and 13 µg/L of phosphorus put it in the top bracket for Minnesota. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Minnesota lakes fall. Pine Lake reaches 25 ft at its deepest point — typical for Minnesota mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 261 acres, Pine Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 3.8 miles of shoreline. Pine Lake ranks 20 of 133 in Cass County, putting it in the upper tier of locally monitored lakes.

No invasive species are currently listed at Pine Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 10, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. Multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies back the grade, so the letter should hold steady absent a major watershed shift.