Cass Lake
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Cass Lake is mapped to a depth of 120 ft on the Minnesota DNR survey and covers about 15,957 acres in Beltrami County, Minnesota. Depths come from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1937.
Measured from the Minnesota DNR lake bathymetric contour survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 120 ft
- Survey year
- 1937
- Surface area
- 15,957 acres
- Shoreline
- 31.11 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 6% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Trailer Launch · Cass Lake (E) Public Water Access Site · Minnesota DNR site · 3 more
Additional depth details24 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–120 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 120 ft, 110 ft, 50 ft
Provenance
Sources: MN DNR Lake Bathymetric Contours, USGS 3DEP, USDA NAIP (public domain), OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
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Map details & sources4 sources
All layers registered to one bounding box; positions in WGS 84.
Survey-derived depth contours drape over USGS 3DEP elevation, with a USDA NAIP aerial basemap and OpenStreetMap shoreline. Color shows surveyed depth; dark lines are the survey's own isobaths.
- Coordinates
- 47.42373, -94.52912
- MN DNR lake ID
- 04003000
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.2 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-25Cass Lake has a mostly natural, lightly developed setting, long open-water fetch, substantial nearby higher-volume roads.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Very Good | 22.6 of 35 | 66% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (21% forest, 44% wetland; 16% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Modest | 1.5 of 29 | mean fetch 8,545 m · 0% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · long open-water fetch |
| Motor & speed rules | Not modeled | — | Minnesota’s lake-by-lake motor, speed and no-wake rules are mostly county and city ordinances, not map data, so they are not part of the Minnesota index. Check local signage and ordinances before going out. |
| Public access | Good | 15.0 of 18 | 4 DNR public access sites · boat ramp · fishing pier |
| Road isolation | Modest | 0.9 of 18 | substantial nearby higher-volume roads · 39 MnDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 7,739 vehicles/day |
Additional paddling considerations
These describe the lake but are not part of the v1 Paddling Index and do not change the number above.
- Wake sensitivity
- Low — wide enough that wakes disperse over most of the lake
- Aquatic vegetation
- Low — approximately 6% mapped coverage · NAIP aerial imagery (NDVI)
- Observed motorized activity
- Unknown — No lake-level measurement of boat traffic is available. Legal permission to operate motors is not evidence of use.
- Wildlife habitat potential
- High — 21% forest and 44% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
- State water trail
- On a state water trail — Part of a designated Minnesota State Water Trail: Mississippi River. · MN DNR State Water Trails
Compare Minnesota lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from DNR surveys & active stocking13 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colors, not photographs (provenance).
White Sucker
About these fish → the Fish of Minnesota guide
Fishery
surveyed 2025Gamefish Walleye 156 · Northern Pike 52 · Bowfin 1 · Muskellunge 1
Panfish Yellow Perch 948 · Rock Bass 77 · Black Crappie 1
All survey species13 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Bullhead & catfish
Forage & nongame
DNR stocking
state stocking record · 2025–2025Fish the Minnesota DNR has planted in this lake — what was added, distinct from what a survey netted above.
Infested waters listing
2 confirmedMussels & snails
Zebra MusselConfirmed in this water in 2014 (listed 2014).
Plants & algae
Starry StonewortConfirmed in this water in 2016 (listed 2016).
How to identify invasive species in Minnesota lakes →
What does the infested waters list mean?
The Minnesota DNR lists a lake, river, pond or wetland as infested when it contains an aquatic invasive species that could spread to other waters, or when it is connected to a water where one is present. Activities such as bait harvest and water use are managed differently on infested waters. Check the current list before moving water, bait or equipment.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. List of Infested Waters, September 9, 2026. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/ais/infested.html
Cass Lake — common questions
How deep is Cass Lake?
The deepest contour on the Minnesota DNR bathymetric survey of Cass Lake is 120 ft. That is the deepest depth the historical survey map records, which may differ from the deepest point of the lake itself.
How big is Cass Lake?
Cass Lake covers about 15,957 acres in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
What fish are in Cass Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include burbot, lake whitefish, muskellunge, northern pike, walleye, black crappie. The page lists all 13 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Cass Lake?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR lists 4 public access sites on Cass Lake: Cass Lake (E) Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Cass Lake, Hwy 2 Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Cass Lake, Norway Beach (S) Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Cass Lake Fishing Pier (public fishing pier).
