Vermillion Lake
Cass County, Minnesota410 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Vermillion Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 27 ft max depth
- Public access
Vermillion Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 6, 2025 caught 13.14 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at Vermillion Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–10 inches. DNR survey details →
Vermillion Lake is a 410-acre mesotrophic lake in Cass County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 27 feet. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Vermillion Lake covers about 410 acres in Cass County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 29, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Vermillion Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Vermillion Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water12.6 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing14 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 29
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyModerate algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Vermillion Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Vermillion Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Vermillion Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Vermillion Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 12.6 ft. Phosphorus 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 10 µg/L. TSI 48.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 12.6ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 25µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 10µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 48 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Vermillion Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Vermillion Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (58°F) to its warmest (67°F).
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 →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 6, 2025 caught 13.14 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at Vermillion Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–10 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Vermillion Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-06 (Targeted Survey).
5 surveys on file · most recent 2025-08-06 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spottail Shiner | 72.67 | ||
| Golden Shiner | 20.59 | ||
| Yellow Perch | 19.43 | 4–7 in 2023-06-26 | 0.07 lb |
| Bluegill | 14.23 | 3–8 in 2023-06-26 | 0.21 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 13.91 | 10 in 2023-06-26 | 0.89 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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
Lake Details
Max depth
27 ft
Surface area
410 acres
Shoreline
5 mi
Littoral zone
56%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
28 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,273 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Vermillion LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Follow Vermillion Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Vermillion Lake
Water quality readings over time
2 seasons of samples on record (2024–2025). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Improving2 years
Phosphorus
Improving-5.5 µg/L/yr2 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-1.5 µg/L/yr2 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 29
Earliest Apr 13, 1998 · Latest May 16, 1996
Most recent ice-out
Apr 27
1999
9 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
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
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN11-0029-00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Vermillion Lake
Where is Vermillion Lake?
- Vermillion Lake is a lake in Cass County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Vermillion Lake?
- Vermillion Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Vermillion Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Vermillion Lake?
- Vermillion Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in September, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Vermillion Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 6, 2025 caught 13.14 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing at Vermillion Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–10 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Vermillion Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Can I fish at Vermillion Lake?
- Vermillion Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Vermillion Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Cass County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Brainerd Lakes area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Mississippi Headwaters, ranked by water quality
Lakes in the Pine River Watersheds (Brainerd Lakes), ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Vermillion Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Vermillion Lake With Nearby Lakes
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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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