Bass

Buss Lake is a small, quiet lake located in northwestern Aitkin County. The remote location and the fact that there is no designated public access have limited angling pressure. Limited shoreline development and low fishing pressure has maintained a quality element of the Buss Lake fishery. There are only three cabins on the entire lake and most of its natural shoreline features are in place. Past water chemistry analysis have shown the lake to be slightly acidic at pH 6. The deepest part of the lake is 42 feet, however most (89%) is considered to be littoral zone or less than 15 feet in depth.Anglers that fish Buss Lake can expect to find black crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed, hybrid sunfish, northern pike and largemouth bass. Panfish numerically dominate the fishery and although mean size is small, some quality individuals can be found. Bluegill catches were within the normal range for this lake type and the mean size was 5.3 inches. Hybridization among sunfish is occurring in Buss Lake, the most common hybrid is the (bluegill X pumpkinseed) cross. The largest hybrid sampled in 2004 was 9.4 inches. Black crappie were above the normal range for abundance reaching a historical high for Buss Lake at 12.6 fish per trap net. Mean length for crappie was low but showed a slight increase from 6.4 inches in 1999 to 7.7 inches in 2004. The abundance of northern pike is at an all time low; however, the size structure of the population is favorable for such a small lake. There were 2.25 pike per gillnet lift caught in 2004 and the mean length was 24 inches with one individual measuring 34 inches. The mean weight was 3.5lbs, which is the heaviest mean weight recorded since the initial survey in 1978. Anglers are strongly encouraged to release larger pike to maintain the quality size structure. Buss Lake can also yield some memorable largemouth bass, however only a few juvenile bass were sampled in 2004.

Buss or Bass Lake as it is sometimes called, is a small, 111-acre lake in northwestern Aitkin County. Shoreline development is limited to three cabins on the west side of the lake and there is no public access. The lake is relatively shallow with 89 percent of the area less than 15 feet deep. There is one deep hole in the north end that is 42 feet deep. The water chemistry analysis of this lake identifies it as a very soft water lake that may be susceptible to acidification. Because of its remote location and lack of a public access, the fish community in Buss Lake has probably not been subjected to much fishing pressure. Some of the data gathered in the population assessment reflect this more natural state. The density of the northern pike population is low for this type of lake, which is generally preferable to the other extreme where there is an overabundance of small fish and a lack of larger northern pike. The size structure of the northern pike population has decreased in quality somewhat since the initial survey in 1978 with the average weight falling from 3 lbs in 1978 to 1.9 lbs in 1999. The average size for northern pike from the most recent survey was 21 inches with the largest fish reaching just less than 25 inches. Yellow perch, which is probably the most important forage for northern pike, was rarely encountered. Low yellow perch abundance may be somewhat limiting the growth of northern pike. The abundance of bluegill was in the normal range for this type of lake, while the average size was 5.1 inches. Black crappie abundance is high, but within the range of previous observation. The size structure of the crappie population doesn't appear to have changed from past surveys, with the average size at 6.4 inches. Anglers may expect to catch abundant but small panfish with an occasional larger black crappie. The lake also has a history of producing big largemouth bass. The largest bass sampled in this survey was less than 17 inches. Through the continued release of larger bass and big northern pike it is hoped that the unique character of these fisheries can be maintained.

The fish community in Buss (Bass) Lake appears to be relatively stable over time. Net catches were low for several species, including northern pike, brown and yellow bullheads, pumpkinseeds and largemouth bass. Low lake productivity limits the growth rates and therefore the abundance of harvestable-size fishes in Bass Lake. Northern pike abundance was low enough to allow the fish to reach an acceptable average length of 21.4 inches. One large northern pike (32.4 inches) was caught. Bluegills were smaller than the size preferred by anglers. Bluegills caught in the trapnets in this survey averaged just 5.3 inches long and reached a maximum length of only 7.6 inches. Black crappies were the exception to low numbers or small fish within a population. Black crappies were caught at above-normal rates in the trapnets for this type of lake. The fish averaged only 6.6 inches long, however the average was affected by a large 1990 year class. Several older year classes were well represented and several black crappies over 11 inches were caught. These larger fish were at least 10 years old. Fishing pressure is apparently low enough to allow black crappies to grow to a preferred size. Increased angling harvest will result in a reduction in the occurence of larger black crappies and northern pike in Bass Lake.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Hybrid Sunfish, Black Crappie, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, and Pumpkinseed in Bass. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Bass. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Bass has a maximum depth of 42 feet and a mean depth of 7 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Bass is from 2004. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

No invasive species are on record for Bass in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.