Basswood

Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Basswood Lake on August 7th, 2025. This was done to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Whitefish, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake (Cisco, also known as 'Tullibee', are also present). Lake Whitefish require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 17.2 degrees C (63.0 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on data collected from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth was 95.1 feet), the water temperature decreased to 17.2 degrees C (63.0 degrees F) at 23.1 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 78.1 feet at the time of sampling. This layer in the water column was 54.9 feet, indicating oxythermal habitat for Lake Whitefish was present. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 7.5 degrees C (45.5 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 17.2 degrees C (63.0 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Lake Whitefish at the time of the survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 2014, 2022, 2024 also indicated suitable oxythermal habitat in all years surveyed, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2022 when the suitable oxythermal habitat layer was 2.8 feet thick. Lake Whitefish seem to be very long lived, with ages of spawning adults ranging from 8 to 19 years of age in a sample from Autumn 2022. When adequate oxythermal habitat is not available, Lake Whitefish are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.

Basswood Lake is a large, sprawling body of water located northeast of Ely and lies partly along the Canadian border. The whole lake is 25,953 acres with 14,071 acres in Minnesota and 11,882 in Ontario. All of the water in Minnesota is within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). Areas on the west side (Jackfish and Pipestone Bays), south central (Back, Hoist, and Wind Bays), and the east side (Inlet and south of Bailey Bay) allow 25 hp motor use. An area from north of Washington Island to the narrows on the north side of Jackfish bay (Goose Narrows) is non-motorized. All of the water on the Ontario side is within Quetico Provincial Park and is also non-motorized. People can access the lake for day-trips in canoes with self-issued permits at the entry points. People intending to camp or motor into the allowed portion of the BWCAW on Basswood must obtain an overnight or motor use permit from a US Forest Service District office. Numerous portages provide access throughout the lake but the most commonly used motor access routes come through Fall Lake, to Newton Lake, to Pipestone Bay on the west side. This access requires visitors to portage their own boats on portage wheels between the lakes. The other major route is through Moose Lake, to Newfound Lake, to Sucker Lake, to Prairie Portage on the east side. For a fee, a vehicle towing a trailer will pull boats over from Sucker Lake to Inlet Bay on Basswood. The lake's two major inlets, the Kawishiwi River which flows into Pipestone Bay, and the overflow of the dam at Prairie Portage, drain massive areas of land and lakes to the south and east. The lone outlet occurs at Upper Basswood Falls on the far west side of Basswood Lake. Basswood Lake has a maximum depth of 111 feet, littoral area of about 27 percent, Secchi disk reading of 8.0 to 13.0 feet and, depending on location, brown bog stain to light green colored water. Eight DO/temperature profiles were taken between August 1st and September 12th, 2022 at eight different water quality stations on the lake. All profiles showed thermal stratification to some degree with surface temps ranging from 69F to 71F and bottom temps ranging from 46F to 63F. Oxygen levels adequate for gamefish were retained to around 40 feet or deeper at all water quality locations. Lake bottom substrates along the shoreline vary significantly based on your location on the lake. Many areas are dominated by boulder, rubble, gravel, and ledgerock. Other areas are entirely surrounded by bog, or have substantial amounts of soft muck, or silt over firmer substrates such as sand or gravel. Aquatic plants can be plentiful in some of the bays. The overall gillnet catch rate for all fish combined was 45.6 fish/net which was the second highest historic catch rate (46.9 fish/net in 1977). Yield was 48.8 lbs/net which was the record highest yield for the lake. Fish species sampled were walleye (34%), yellow perch (27%), tullibee (9%), white sucker (8%), black crappie (7%), northern pike (7%), rock bass (4%), bluegill (2%), smallmouth bass (2%), lake whitefish (<1%), and shorthead redhorse (<1%). The overall trap net catch rate for all fish combined was 15.6 fish/net which was lower than the 24.6 fish/net catch from the 2015 survey. Fish species sampled were bluegill (59%), northern pike (15%), black crappie (11%), yellow perch (8%), pumpkinseed (2%), walleye (1%), rock bass (1%), largemouth bass (1%), smallmouth bass (1%), white sucker (<1%), and northern sunfish (<1%). Three-hundred-nine walleye were sampled in the gill nets for a catch rate of 15.5 fish/net. This catch rate was very good compared to other similar lakes and ranked second out of seven surveys on Basswood dating back to 1961. Lengths ranged from 7 to 29 inches with an average of 15.5 inches. This average length was the highest on record for Basswood and the maximum length was on par with previous surveys. Growth rates were average when compared to other walleye populations in the area. Ages ranged from 1 to 21 with few missing year classes. Recruitment appeared strong with the strongest year-class occurring in 2019, which accounted for 28% of the total catch. The 2022 northern pike gillnet catch was 3.1 fish/net which was good compared to other similar lakes but just below average for Basswood. Lengths ranged from 14 to just over 39 inches with an average of just over 23 inches. Both the average and maximum lengths were on par with previous surveys. Seventeen smallmouth bass were sampled in gill nets for a catch rate of 0.9 fish/net which was better than average compared to other similar lakes and slightly better than average for Basswood. Lengths ranged from 8 to 18 inches with an average of nearly 14 inches. Ages ranged from 2 to 12 years. The tullibee gillnet catch was 4.0 fish/net which was just below average compared to past surveys on Basswood. The average (12.3 inches) and maximum (17.5 inches) lengths were similar to previous assessments. Overall, the tullibee numbers have remained fairly stable over all assessments. Forty-one black crappie were sampled in trap nets for a catch rate of 1.8 fish/net which was better than average compared to other similar lakes but below the only other trapnet catch (5.1 fish/net) on Basswood Lake. Lengths ranged from 5 to 13.5 inches with an average of nearly 10 inches. Both average and max lengths were similar to the 2015 survey. Ages ranged from 1 to 12 years old with no missing year classes. Growth rates were good compared to other crappie lakes in the area with the average fish reaching 9 inches at four years old. The bluegill population in Basswood Lake has traditionally featured excellent size structure and good numbers. The trapnet catch in 2022 was 9.3 fish/net (12.8 fish/net in 2015) which was just below the average when compared to other bluegill lakes in the Tower area. Sizes ranged from 2 to 10 inches with an average of just over 6 inches. This average length did show a slight decrease from the over 7 inch average length from the 2015 survey. Over 35% of the fish measured 7 inches or longer. Ages ranged from 1 to 11 years old with representation from all year-classes. Growth was above average for the area with the average bluegill reaching 5 inches at four years old.

Basswood Lake is located approximately 12 miles NE of Ely in the BWCAW. This 22,722 acre lake lies along the international border with Ontario and approximately 60% of the waters are in Minnesota. Outboard motors are allowed on most of the portion in Minnesota and a 25 hp motor limit is present. There is another section that is paddle only. The entire Ontario side of the lake is non-motorized and managed as a wilderness area known as Quetico Provincial Park. Prairie Portage is located on the east end of the lake and is the only motorized portage present for access. A concessionaire will transport your watercraft with a truck and trailer from Sucker Lake on the Moose Lake Chain to Inlet Bay on Basswood. There are several other portages located around the lake including two where portage wheels are allowed to transport your boat from Fall and Newton lakes to Pipestone Bay on Basswood. There are numerous USFS campsites located on Basswood Lake. Because of its popularity with anglers and wilderness enthusiasts the permits required by the USFS for visiting Basswood, particularly the motor use permits, are in high demand and often difficult to secure. Basswood Lake is considered as infested waters with spiny water flea being discovered in 2014. Fish sampling in 2015 consisted of trap netting in early June and gill netting in late August and early September. The trap net catch was dominated by bluegill (52%) and black crappie (21%). Panfish were most abundant on the east side of the lake. This was the first time trap nets were used on this lake. Walleye made up 50% of the gill net sample. Fifteen species were sampled between the two gear types. Bluegill numbers in 2015 (12.8/trap net) were below average compared to other similar lakes in the area. The average bluegill sampled was 7.4 inches and the largest bluegill sampled was 9.8 inches long. Thirty-five percent of the bluegill sampled were 8 inches or larger. Black crappie numbers in 2015 (5.1/trap net) were above average compared to other similar lakes in the area. The average crappie sampled was 10.3 inches and the largest crappie sampled was 13.5 inches long. Sixty-seven percent of the crappie sampled were 10 inches or larger. Largemouth bass, hybrid sunfish and pumpkinseed were sampled in the trap nets and not in the gill nets. The average largemouth sampled was 15.5 inches and the longest largemouth sampled was 19.2 inches long. Walleye abundance in 2015 (13.6/gill net) was above average (6.3/gill net) compared to other similar lakes in the area and nearly identical to the long term average for all surveys on this lake. The average walleye sampled was 13.6 inches long and about 4 years old. The largest walleye sampled was 25.9 inches long. Seventy-two percent of the walleye sampled were under 15 inches long. Anglers should note that a change in the walleye bag limit has occurred on the border water portions of Basswood to reflect inland statewide regulations. Northern pike numbers in 2015 (2.5/gill net) were slightly above average compared to other similar lakes in the area and slightly below the long term average for all surveys on this lake. The average pike sampled was 25.5 inches which is larger than the long term average of 22.4 inches. The largest pike sampled was 41.3 inches long. A special regulation for northern pike with a slot limit protecting fish from 24 to 36 inches was introduced in 2003. Fifty-five percent of the pike sampled in 2015 were in this size range. Smallmouth bass numbers in 2015 (1.0/gill net) were slightly above average compared to other similar lakes in the area and slightly above the long term average for all surveys on this lake. The average smallmouth sampled was 15.6 inches long and about 8 to 9 years old. The largest smallmouth sampled was 20.4 inches long. Yellow perch abundance in 2015 (1.4/gill net) was below average compared to other similar lakes in the area and below the long term average for all surveys on this lake. The average length of 7.1 inches is identical to the long term average and the largest perch sampled was 10 inches long. Cisco, lake whitefish, white sucker, shorthead redhorse, rock bass and burbot were also sampled in the gill nets. The gill nets were set at depths under 35 feet so cold water species like cisco and whitefish were not sampled in numbers that accurately reflect their abundance. There is an annual sport netting season for cisco and primarily whitefish. Crayfish numbers in 2015 declined sharply since the 2005 assessment. Northern clearwater crayfish were again most common, primarily on the east end of the lake. One rusty crayfish was sampled and low numbers of northern crayfish were also sampled in 2015.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Black Crappie, Northern Pike, Bluegill, and Yellow Perch in Basswood. 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 Basswood. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Basswood has a maximum depth of 111 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Basswood is from 2022.

Yes — Basswood has confirmed spiny waterflea. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.