Bass Lake

How big is Bass Lake?

How deep is Bass Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Bass Lake?

What are the closest cities to Bass Lake?

Are there boat launches on Bass Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Bass Lake?

What are the fishing regulations for Bass Lake?

There are specific fishing regulations Bass Lake that you need to know. For complete fishing regulations visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. To report a violation call (800) 652-9093. Need a Minnesota fishing license?

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Bass Lake was conducted beginning on July 24th, 2023, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) 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 possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at 24 sampling stations, but three stations were sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample ten stations, a 15-foot seine was used at nine stations, and site conditions prevented the use of seines at five stations. Nearshore sampling captured twenty-six species of fish including ten species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Burbot, Iowa Darter, Mimic Shiner, Mottled Sculpin, Northern Sunfish, Rock Bass, and Smallmouth Bass) and one that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Fathead Minnow).

The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from a July 2023 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead and Fathead Minnow). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.

Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Bass Lake is Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score that exceeds the exceptional use threshold determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to previous survey findings, which indicated that Bass Lake is fully supporting for aquatic life use. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Mississippi River - Grand Rapids Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

A temperature-dissolved oxygen profile was collected in the deepest basin on Bass Lake on August 16th, 2023, to evaluate the amount of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee. Based on the profile, the top of the thermocline (i.e., the location in the water column with the sharpest transition from warm to cold water) occurred at approximately 20 feet. Dissolved oxygen decreased to below 3.0 mg/L at 32.5 feet, which was below the thermocline, at the time of sampling. The temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to below 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 8.1°C (46.6°F).

TDO3 values cooler than 21.5°C indicate that oxythermal conditions are favorable for Cisco. Dissolved oxygen concentrations below the thermocline indicate that suitable oxythermal habitat for Cisco was available across a range of depths at the time of sampling during the summer of 2023. Data collected in 1993 and 2003 also indicated suitable oxythermal habitat. When adequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are not squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and therefore do not experience higher levels of stress.

An assessment of lakeshore habitat on Bass Lake was also conducted on June 7th, 2023, following the Score the Shore survey protocols. The assessment consisted of 98 survey sites evenly spaced 400 meters around the lake. Assessments were made in three habitat zones: Shoreline Zone (the shore-water interface to the top of the natural bank), Shoreland Zone (land-ward from shoreline to development structure or 100 feet), and Aquatic Zone (lake-ward 50 feet of shoreline). The average lakewide habitat score was 82.2 (±2.0) out of 100 possible. A score of 82.2 indicates the lakewide shoreline condition is Moderately High (80-85). Approximately 30 percent of the sites were developed with a mean score of 61.4 (±4.4) indicating shoreline habitat quality of developed sites is Poor(50-66), while undeveloped sites had a mean score of 91.4 (±0.7) with High (85-92) habitat quality.

What is the average air temp for Bass Lake?

Are there any state parks near Bass Lake?