Big Bass

Big Bass is located three miles northeast of Akeley in Hubbard County. Big Bass has a surface area of 132 acres and a maximum depth of 60 feet. There is a state-owned public access located on the south shore of the lake. Big Bass provides fishing opportunities for Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, panfish, Northern Pike, and a bonus Walleye population. Big Bass is known for its exceptional water clarity. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Big Bass is in lake class 28. Class 28 lakes have the characteristics of being small bodies of water with a regular shaped shoreline, hard water, and high water clarity. Other class 28 lakes in the Park Rapids management area include: Emma, Dinner, Gilmore, Indian, Nagel, Thomas, and Williams. Anglers will find good populations of Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and panfish present in Big Bass. While sampled in low numbers in the 2023 survey, past surveys conducted in the spring with electrofishing gear specifically targeting bass, showed good numbers of Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass in the 12-16 inch size range. Good water quality, aquatic vegetation, and spawning substrate provides excellent habitat for bass populations in Big Bass. Anglers will find good numbers of Bluegill in the 6-8 inch size range. Black Crappie abundance was up from past surveys with fish in the 9-11 inch size range. Black Crappie populations have fluctuated from low to moderate numbers in past surveys. Past and present surveys have shown the Northern Pike population to fluctuate from low to moderate numbers with moderate to quality-sized pike. Walleye abundance was down from past surveys and at the low end of the range typical for this lake class. Walleye up to 21.8 inches were sampled. Yellow Perch, an important Walleye forage species, were sampled in moderate numbers with fish measured up to 9.0 inches. Yellow Perch abundance has been low in recent surveys. Other species sampled in moderate numbers included Rock Bass and White Sucker. Yellow Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, and Green Sunfish were sampled in low numbers. Currently no Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) have been identified in Big Bass. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boats before leaving the access.

Big Bass Lake (29-0032-00) is a 132-acre lake with a maximum depth of 60 feet located northwest of Akeley, MN. A survey targeting near shore fish species was conducted by Park Rapids Fisheries Staff on 30 June 2017 to assess populations of non-game species and small sport fish. Ten 100-foot sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake shore, sampling a variety of habitat types. Each site was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot 1/8th-inch mesh seine, depending on habitat condition. During this assessment, zero sites were sampled with a 50-foot seine and nine were sampled with a 15-foot seine. Site conditions prevented the use of seines at one site. Backpack electrofishing was done at all ten sites, several of which were conducted from the side of the boat. Nearshore sampling captured several species of fish including two species intolerant of disturbance such as Banded Killifish, and Blacknose Shiner. Other species sampled during the nearshore effort included Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Green Sunfish, Hybrid sunfish, Iowa Darter, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and Yellow Bullhead. Nearshore catches will be used along with gillnet and trapnet catch data from a survey on 13 June 2017, to calculate a fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) score which is indicative of the health of Big Bass Lake. This survey is contributing to a watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. Big Bass Lake is located in the Crow Wing River Watershed.

Big Bass Lake is located three miles northeast of Akeley in Hubbard County. Big Bass has a surface area of 132.5 acres and a maximum depth of 60 feet. There is a state-owned public access located on the south shore of the lake. Big Bass provides fishing opportunities for Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and panfish. Big Bass is known for its exceptional water clarity. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 types based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Big Bass is in lake class 28. Class 28 lakes have the characteristics of being small bodies of water with a regular shaped shoreline, hard water, and high water clarity. Other class 28 lakes in the Park Rapids area include: Dinner, Emma, Gilmore, Indian, Nagel, Newman, Thomas, and Williams. Walleye abundance (2.6 Walleye/gill net) was within the normal range for this lake class and similar to recent surveys. Decent numbers of Walleye in the 18-20 inch size range were sampled with fish measured up to 24.4 inches. Yellow Perch, an important Walleye forage species, were not sampled in 2016 and were sampled in very low numbers in the 2009 survey. Past surveys have shown the Northern Pike population in Big Bass to fluctuate from low to moderate numbers with moderate to quality sized pike. Northern Pike were sampled in low numbers in 2016, with fish measured up to 31.5 inches. Good populations of Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and panfish are found in Big Bass. Anglers will find good numbers of bass in the 12-15 inch size. Largemouth Bass up to 19.1 inches and Smallmouth Bass up to 18.5 inches were sampled. Bluegill were sampled in moderate numbers, similar to recent surveys. Anglers will find Bluegill in the 6-7 inch size range. Black Crappie were not sampled in 2016, but have been sampled in low to moderate numbers in past surveys. Other species sampled include Rock Bass, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, and Green Sunfish. Currently, no Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) have been identified in Big Bass. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boats before leaving the access.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, and Northern Pike in Big Bass. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Big Bass. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Big Bass has a maximum depth of 60 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Big Bass is from 2023.

No invasive species are on record for Big Bass in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.

No — Big Bass has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide crappie limit is: 10 combined total. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.