Wabedo Lake
Wabedo Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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.
- Clarity
- 10.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 95 ft
- Area
- 1,226 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 21
- Open water
- 224 days
Next lake in Cass County
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 quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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. 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)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 16 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 16 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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.
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Water Temperature
Wabedo Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 95 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,226 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 11.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 24% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Wabedo LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Wabedo Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
18 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-31 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 21.57 | 0.11 lb |
| MMS | 19.03 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 16.21 | 0.12 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 13.32 | — |
| BCS | 8.77 | — |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 6.65 | 0.5 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
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
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.283 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.41 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.1 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (27 observations).
Estimated open water season: 224 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2017-04-04 (2017) | 2022-05-06 (2022) |
| Ice-In | 2018-11-20 (2018) | 2004-12-15 (2004) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-17
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
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN11-0171-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.38 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #43 of 104 lakes in Cass County
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Wabedo Lake
What is the water quality grade for Wabedo Lake?
- Wabedo Lake in Cass County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Wabedo Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Wabedo Lake?
- Wabedo Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, 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.
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.
Explore Wabedo Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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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)
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