Vermillion Lake
Vermillion Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 12.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 410.35 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 67°F
- Max depth
- 27 ft
- Area
- 410 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 29
Next lake in Cass County
Vermillion Lake is a 410-acre mesotrophic lake in Cass County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 27 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 103 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Vermillion Lake ranks #99 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)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 10 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 25 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Vermillion Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Vermillion 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 Vermillion Lake
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Water Temperature
Vermillion Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 67°F) and coldest in May (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 89 field readings (2018–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Vermillion Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 27 ft |
| Surface Area | 410 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 56% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Vermillion LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Vermillion Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-06 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Spottail Shiner | 72.67 | — |
| SUN | 70.27 | — |
| GOS | 20.59 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 19.43 | 0.07 lb |
| Bluegill | 14.23 | 0.21 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 13.91 | 0.89 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
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
From the 2025-08-06 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Vermillion Lake, was conducted on August 6th-7th, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Vermillion Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — VermillionFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Vermillion (1495)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — VermillionFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — VermillionPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +6.6 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -5.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (9 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 1998-04-13 (1998) | 1996-05-16 (1996) |
| Ice-In | 2022-12-03 (2022) | 2016-12-13 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 1999-04-27
EPA Impairment Status
Vermillion Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN11-0029-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #99 of 104 lakes in Cass County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Vermillion 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 Vermillion Lake
What is the water quality grade for Vermillion Lake?
- Vermillion Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 12.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 410.35 acres.
Is Vermillion Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Vermillion Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 10 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Vermillion Lake?
- Vermillion Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August, from 89 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2018–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Vermillion Lake?
- Vermillion Lake has a maximum depth of 27 feet. The lake covers 410.35 acres.
What fish are in Vermillion Lake?
- Fish species found in Vermillion Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Vermillion Lake is located in Cass County, Minnesota.
When does Vermillion Lake thaw?
- Vermillion Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 29.
Are there boat ramps on Vermillion Lake?
- Vermillion Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Vermillion Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Vermillion 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
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Vermillion Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
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
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