Bass

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Bass Lake was conducted on August 4-5, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) 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 ten sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample five stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at four stations. One station was not seined due to deep water adjacent to emergent vegetation. Nearshore sampling captured ten species of fish, including two species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish and Blacknose Shiner) and one that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Green Sunfish). A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by LBMA program staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured nine species of fish, none of which are intolerant or tolerant of disturbance. Bluegill and Hybrid Sunfish comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Yellow Bullhead, Bluegill, and Hybrid Sunfish comprised a majority by biomass. The nearshore and trap net were combined with gill net data from an August 2023 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based index of biological integrity (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., Green Sunfish and Common Carp). 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. Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were also collected from the deepest basin in Bass Lake on August 4, 2025, 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. During the summer, Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth 47.9 feet), the water temperature decreased below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 13.5 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 18.4 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 4.9 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present but somewhat limited for Cisco. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 14.6 degrees C (58.3 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Cisco at the time of the survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 16 years, between 1982-2024, also indicate suitable, but occasionally limited, oxythermal habitat at the time of those surveys, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2024 when the suitable oxythermal habitat layer was only 0.8 feet thick. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Mississippi River - Brainerd Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Bass Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.

Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Bass Lake on August 15th, 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. During the summer, Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin, the water temperature decreased below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 15.4 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 16.2 feet at the time of sampling, samples were collected down to 39.0 of 82.0 feet due to lack of dissolved oxygen. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 0.8 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present but marginal for Cisco. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 20.0 degrees C (68.0 degrees F). TDO3 values near 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and as the layer was confined to less than 3 feet of suitable habitat indicate that oxythermal conditions were marginal for Cisco at the time of the survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 5 years, between 1982-2016, indicate suitable oxythermal habitat in all years surveyed, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2024 when the suitable oxythermal habitat layer was 0.8 feet thick. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.

Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Bass Lake on August 15th, 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. During the summer, Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin, the water temperature decreased below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 15.4 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 16.2 feet at the time of sampling, samples were collected down to 39.0 of 82.0 feet due to lack of dissolved oxygen. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 0.8 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present but marginal for Cisco. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 20.0 degrees C (68.0 degrees F). TDO3 values near 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and as the layer was confined to less than 3 feet of suitable habitat indicate that oxythermal conditions were marginal for Cisco at the time of the survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 5 years, between 1982-2016, indicate suitable oxythermal habitat in all years surveyed, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2024 when the suitable oxythermal habitat layer was 0.8 feet thick. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Hybrid Sunfish, and Yellow Perch 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 82 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Bass is from 2025.

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.