Steamboat Bay Lake
Steamboat Bay Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 150 ft. Surface area: 103443.8 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.8 ft
- Max depth
- 150 ft
- Area
- 103,444 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 28
- Open water
- 217 days
Next lake in Cass County
Steamboat Bay Lake is a 103,444-acre mesotrophic lake in Cass County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 150 feet (19-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. The lake supports 18 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available. Compared to the 103 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Steamboat Bay Lake ranks #64 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-09-07. 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 9.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Steamboat Bay Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 150 ft |
| Average Depth | 18.5 ft |
| Surface Area | 103,444 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 194.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 56% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Steamboat Bay Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
33 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-05-14 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 260.48 | 0.21 lb |
| Walleye | 31.79 | 0.82 lb |
| MMS | 29.52 | — |
| Spottail Shiner | 15.94 | — |
| TRP | 11.68 | 0.01 lb |
| BUB | 11.32 | 2.41 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
Walleye
MMS
Spottail Shiner
From the 2025-05-14 survey
Leech Lake is the third largest lake entirely within the boundaries of Minnesota and has approximately 112,000 surface acres. The lake has an irregular shape with a variety of large and small bays. The deepest area of the lake is in Walker Bay where depths approach 160 feet. Approximately 80% of the lake is less than…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Steamboat Bay Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LeechFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Leech (1567)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — LeechFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — LeechPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (231 observations).
Estimated open water season: 217 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2012-04-02 (2012) | 1950-05-23 (1950) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-20 (2018) | 1998-12-17 (1998) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-26
County Ranking
Ranked #64 of 104 lakes in Cass County
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Steamboat Bay Lake
What is the water quality grade for Steamboat Bay Lake?
- Steamboat Bay Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 150 ft. Surface area: 103443.8 acres.
Is Steamboat Bay Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Steamboat Bay Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Steamboat Bay Lake?
- Steamboat Bay Lake has a maximum depth of 150 feet and an average depth of 18.5 feet. The lake covers 103443.8 acres.
What fish are in Steamboat Bay Lake?
- Fish species found in Steamboat Bay Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, burbot, hybrid sunfish, lake whitefish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Steamboat Bay Lake is located in Cass County, Minnesota.
When does Steamboat Bay Lake thaw?
- Steamboat Bay Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 28. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 217 days.
Explore Steamboat Bay Lake across LakeGrade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
87 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX87 samples · 2021–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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 details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate