Wabedo Lake
Cass County, Minnesota1,226 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Wabedo Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 95 ft max depth
- Public access
Wabedo Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 95 ft. Surface area: 1226.41 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 8, 2024 caught 3.83 walleye per gill net at Wabedo Lake. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of Wabedo Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 90 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Wabedo Lake is a 1,226-acre mesotrophic lake in Cass County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 95 feet. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 19 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, Wabedo Lake ranks #43 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-29. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Wabedo Lake covers about 1,200 acres in Cass County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 21, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Wabedo Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Wabedo Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water10.5 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing19 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 21
- Deep water95 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water1,226 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow 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. Wabedo Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Wabedo 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 Wabedo Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Wabedo 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 10.5 ft. Phosphorus 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.9 µg/L. TSI 45.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 10.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 16µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 4.9µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 45 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Wabedo Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Wabedo Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in Sep (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (64°F) to its warmest (74°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 40 field readings (2010–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Wabedo Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 8, 2024 caught 3.83 walleye per gill net at Wabedo Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Wabedo Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
18 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-31 (Targeted Survey).
18 surveys on file · most recent 2024-07-31 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 21.57 | 3–8 in 2024-07-08 | 0.11 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 16.21 | 5–11 in 2024-07-08 | 0.12 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 13.32 | ||
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 6.65 | 7–13 in 2021-07-12 | 0.5 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.
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Tullibee (Cisco)
From the 2024-07-31 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles were collected in the deepest basins in Wabedo Lake on July 31, 2024 , to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. Cisco require…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Wabedo Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WabedoFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Wabedo (1602)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — WabedoFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WabedoPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
95 ft
Surface area
1,226 acres
Shoreline
11.3 mi
Littoral zone
24%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
22 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,302 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Wabedo 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 Wabedo Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Wabedo 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 Wabedo 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 Wabedo Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Wabedo Lake
Water Quality Trend: Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+0.41 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Stable+0.1 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 21
Earliest Apr 4, 2017 · Latest May 6, 2022
Typical ice-in
Dec 1
Earliest Nov 20, 2018 · Latest Dec 15, 2004
Most recent ice-out
Apr 17
2025
27 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Wabedo Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN11-0171-02 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Wabedo Lake
Where is Wabedo Lake?
- Wabedo 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 Wabedo Lake?
- Wabedo Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 95 ft. Surface area: 1226.41 acres.
Is Wabedo Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Wabedo Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Wabedo Lake?
- Wabedo Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in September, from 40 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Wabedo Lake?
- Wabedo Lake has a maximum depth of 95 feet. The lake covers 1226.41 acres.
What fish are in Wabedo Lake?
- Fish species found in Wabedo Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, cisco species, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Wabedo Lake is located in Cass County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Wabedo Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 8, 2024 caught 3.83 walleye per gill net at Wabedo Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Wabedo Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Wabedo Lake thaw?
- Wabedo Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 21. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 224 days.
Are there boat ramps on Wabedo Lake?
- Wabedo Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Wabedo Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Wabedo Lake?
- Wabedo 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 Wabedo Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
297 measurements from 4 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA297 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
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