Wabasso Lake
Ramsey County, MinnesotaMesotrophic
Wabasso Lake carries a solid B grade — strong on most parameters, with measurements that hold up well across the summer season. The two scored sub-grades — clarity and phosphorus — track close together, so neither one is dragging the average down.
The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Minnesota lakes fall. Wabasso Lake is unusually deep for Minnesota at 66 ft, which buffers the lake against summer warming and helps the deep water stay oxygenated. At 43 acres, Wabasso Lake sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Wabasso Lake ranks 10 of 49 in Ramsey County, putting it in the upper tier of locally monitored lakes.
Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Wabasso Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 9, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. A documented public access point at Wabasso Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The lake has a partial ice record — 6 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 4. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-12. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft. Phosphorus level: 30 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 66 ft |
| Surface Area | 42.82 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 65% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Wabasso Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Wabasso Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Wabasso Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.125 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.4 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (9 observations).
Estimated open water season: 241 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2026-03-31 (2026) | 2018-04-29 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2006-12-01 (2006) | 2001-12-20 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-31
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 49 lakes in Ramsey County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Wabasso Lake holds Grade B. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Ramsey County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Wabasso Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2015-06-20 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 82.06 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 11.99 | 0.42 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 5.60 | 0.59 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 4.28 | 0.12 lb |
| Black Crappie | 3.71 | 0.19 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 3.54 | 0.59 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
Black Bullhead
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
From the 2015-06-20 survey
Lake Wabbaso is a 46-acre Bass-Bluegill lake located in Ramsey County where Bluegill and Largemouth Bass are the primary management species, and Northern Pike are a secondary management species. Bluegills were the most abundant species sampled in Lake Wabasso, although catches were significantly lower than in previous…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Wabasso Lake. 2 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WabassoFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WabassoPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
EPA Impairment Status
Wabasso 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 MN62-0038-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.4 km)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2024-09-12
Monitoring stations: 2