Bass

Bass Lake is a 294 acre lake located seven miles northeast of Merrifield in Crow Wing County. Bass Lake is located in the Mississippi River-Brainerd watershed. Bass has a maximum depth of 24'. A nearshore survey was conducted to assess the populations of both game and non-game fish species. Ten 100' long sampling stations were evenly spaced around the lakeshore. Each station was then sampled by backpack electrofishing, and if conditions allowed with a 15' or 50' 1/8th inch seine. The survey took place on 01 August 2016, with all ten stations sampled by backpack electrofishing. The 50' 1/8th inch seine was used at five stations, and the 15' 1/8th inch seine was used at an additional two stations. Three stations had heavy vegetation which would not allow for seining. Nine species were sampled including Iowa Darter, blacknose shiner, and banded killifish. This nearshore survey will be used along with the gillnet and trapnet survey conducted on 20-23 June 2016 to calculate an Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) score. This score will be an indicator of the health of Bass Lake.

Bass Lake is a 294 acre lake located seven miles northeast of Merrifield in Crow Wing County. The maximum depth is 24', with 63% of the lake 15' deep or less. Water clarity is good with a secchi disk reading of 14'. A public access is located on the east side of the lake. Bulrush and water lilies surround much of the lake. Protection of aquatic vegetation, especially emergent vegetation, is important for maintaining good water quality. Aquatic vegetation is critical for fish spawning areas, providing habitat for fish and other aquatic life, and decreasing shoreline erosion, lake sedimentation, and nutrient uptake. The northern pike catch of 20.0/gillnet was high when compared to similar lakes, and the highest catch to date. Average length was 23.0", with 42% at least 24" in length. Voluntary release of these larger pike will help maintain a balanced population. Bass lake is appropriately named since it contains an abundance of largemouth bass. Largemouth bass were sampled by a spring electrofishing survey at a rate of 139.4/hr. Average length was 11.9", with 44% measuring at least 12" in length. Largemouth were sampled in high numbers in gillnets at 2.8/net, with an average length of 13.2". The black crappie catch of 0.5/gillnet was low compared to similar lakes. Average length was 6.1". The trapnet black crappie catch was average at 1.3/net. Average length was 8.3". For both gears combined 60% were at least 8" in length. It takes 4 years for crappies to reach 8" in Bass Lake. Bluegills were abundant at 57.7/ trapnets, but run on the small side with an average length of 5.9". Only 3% of the catch was at least 7" in length and it takes roughly 8 years to reach that size. Yellow perch are an important forage species and were sampled in average numbers at 16.0/gillnet. Some were big enough to be of interest to anglers with an average length of 7.9". Yellow perch at least 8" in length made up 65% of the catch. No invasive species have been discovered in Bass Lake, but they are located in the area. Before and after launching lake users are required to inspect and remove any aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and trailers as well as pull the plug and drain all water from the watercraft, including bilges, livewells and baitwells.

Bass is a 309 acre lake located about eight miles north of Merrifield, just west of Upper Mission Lake. A public access is located on the east shore. The lake has moderately-hard water and low phosphorus fertility. Water clarity is good for the area. About 60% of the lake is shallower than 15 feet. Shallow water soils are predominantly sandy, with some marl and muck present, as well. The aquatic plant community is fairly diverse. Emergent species in marshy areas provide important spawning habitat for northern pike. Bulrush provides preferred spawning areas for bass and panfish species. Submergent vegetation grows to a depth of about 20 feet in Bass Lake. Many species provide important fish cover, as well as feeding areas, for a wide variety of fish species.Northern pike and largemouth bass were the most abundant gamefish species taken in the 1994 testnetting. Northern pike numbers were "average" compared to similar type lakes. The catch was below that seen in the 1987 netting, but similar to catches from earlier nettings. Northern pike caught were 13-31 inches long in '94, similar to the '87 size range, however, average length was up to 25 inches and average weight increased to 4.3 lbs.. Several age classes were sampled and growth was good.Largemouth bass numbers bordered on "high" compared to similar lakes. High numbers were seen in most previous nettings. Bass collected from anglers in August of '94 ranged from 9-16 inches long, were 4-6 years old and had growth rates which varied from slow to good. All bass collected from anglers were released, live, after being weighed, measured and scale-sampled by DNR Fisheries staff. Walleyes were caught in test nets in '94 for the first time.The bluegill catch remained very high, for the second netting in a row. Ages 3-6 were sampled and growth was slow. Most bluegills caught were less than 7.0 inches long. Pumpkinseeds were present in high numbers, as well. Black crappies were present in "high" numbers. The '87 catch was "average." Most crappies were from the 1990 year class and had slow growth. Older fish seemed to have better growth.Forage fish were also abundant in Bass Lake. Yellow perch numbers were high, and up substantially from the '87 catch. Golden shiners were caught in high numbers too. White suckers were caught in "average" numbers. Brown bullheads were caught in high numbers, but only in gillnets. Yellow bullheads were caught for the first time in '94 and were also only taken in gillnets.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Walleye, and Hybrid Sunfish in Bass. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Bass. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Bass has a maximum depth of 24 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Bass is from 2016. 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.