Bass

A survey of near shore fish species was conducted on Bass Lake on July 28th and 31st, 2017 by the Sauk Rapids DNR Fisheries office. Ten sampling sites were evenly spaced around the shoreline and each site was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining, except two sites where soft sediments prevented the use of a seine. Nearshore sampling captured 13 species of fish, including two species that are intolerant of shoreline disturbance and/or poor water quality (Blackchin Shiner and Iowa Darter). The near shore fish survey data will be combined with gill net and trap net data from a June 2017 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish based Index of Biotic Integrity (FIBI) score based on expectations for similar lakes. The FIBI score for Bass Lake is above an impairment threshold developed for similar lakes. This survey is contributing to a watershed assessment process in coordination with the MN Pollution Control Agency. Bass Lake is located in the Mississippi River St. Cloud Watershed

A survey of near shore fish species was conducted on Bass Lake on July 28th and 31st, 2017 by the Sauk Rapids DNR Fisheries office. Ten sampling sites were evenly spaced around the shoreline and each site was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining, except two sites where soft sediments prevented the use of a seine. Nearshore sampling captured 13 species of fish, including two species that are intolerant of shoreline disturbance and/or poor water quality (Blackchin Shiner and Iowa Darter). The near shore fish survey data will be combined with gill net and trap net data from a June 2017 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish based Index of Biotic Integrity (FIBI) score based on expectations for similar lakes. The FIBI score for Bass Lake is above an impairment threshold developed for similar lakes. This survey is contributing to a watershed assessment process in coordination with the MN Pollution Control Agency. Bass Lake is located in the Mississippi River St. Cloud Watershed

Bass Lake is a 218 acre lake located five miles north of Annandale in Wright County. The lake has one public access located on the west side of the lake. The water quality of Bass Lake is good with a 10 year average water clarity reading of 14 feet; and adequate dissolved oxygen down to 26 feet during the last week of June 2017. Bass Lake has a small watershed (951 acres) with land use consisting of 35% agriculture, 32% marsh/open water, 12% forest, 10% residential, 6% pasture, and 5% grassland. Emergent and floating-leaf vegetation mapping was also completed to evaluate the physical habitat of Bass Lake. Emergent plants were found to cover 3% of the lake and was limited mostly to the channel area on the west side of the lake north of the public access. Species found included: cattail spp., yellow water lily, and bulrush spp. A standard survey was conducted in 2017 to monitor changes in the fishery since the last survey conducted in 2005. Anglers can expect good bass angling for fish of all sizes. Largemouth Bass were sampled by daytime electrofishing in May 2017 at nearly twice the average rate for Sauk Rapids area lakes with fish up to 18.5 inches sampled. Of catchable size fish (>8 inches), 69% were longer than 12 inches and 22% were longer than 15 inches. Bass Lake has a history of high catch rates of Northern Pike with the population being dominated by small fish. Northern Pike numbers were lower than 2008 but remained well above the expected range of values for similar lakes. Lengths ranged from 9 to 37 inches with an average length and weight of 22 inches and 2.8 pounds. Northern Pike were larger compared to the last survey; 32% were 24 inches or longer in 2017, compared to only 4% in 2005. No Walleye were sampled in 2017, which is not surprising since Walleye were last stocked in 1993. Prior stocking efforts were unsuccessful most likely due to the high Northern Pike abundance and low Yellow Perch abundance. The Bluegill catch in 2017 was similar to that observed in 2005 and good fishing for smaller sized Bluegill can be expected. Of catchable size fish (>3 inches), only 38% were longer than six inches and no Bluegill over eight inches were sampled. Historically, Black Crappie abundance has been low and the catch in 2017 was no exception. While most of the crappie sampled were between eight and nine inches, crappie up to 12 inches were sampled during the survey. Other fish species sampled included: Black Bullhead, Bowfin (dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and Yellow Bullhead.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rock Bass, Hybrid Sunfish, and Black Crappie 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 34 feet and a mean depth of 16.9 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Bass is from 2017. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Yes — Bass has confirmed zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.