Baby Lake

Cass County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 11028300

DNR records show 5 stocking entries at Baby Lake since 2016, most recently walleye fingerlings in 2024 (3,962 fish).

• Baby Lake has 5 DNR stocking records across 5 years (2016-2024): walleye (5).
• The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 35,506 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 69 ft, mean depth 31 ft; surface area 737 acres, 248 littoral acres, 11.7 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 13.4 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, northern sunfish, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), and 4 more.
• 1 public access on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: July 31, 2024 (targeted survey).
• Cass County, nearest town Hackensack; DNR lake number (DOW) 11028300.

Depth map

Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 8/16/1957 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.

Stocking history

² fish purchased by the DNR for stocking.

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2024

Temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles were collected in the deepest basins in Baby Lake on July 31, 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. 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 to below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 20.0 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 20.1 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 0.1 feet, indicating that limited oxythermal habitat was present 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 21.1 degrees C (70.0 degrees F). TDO3 values near 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were marginal for Cisco; however, the layer was confined to less than 3 feet of suitable habitat at the time of this survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in 2022 and 2023 during the late summer thermal stress period indicate suitable oxythermal habitat, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2022. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, July 31, 2024.

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