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FishGrade

Best Largemouth Bass Lakes in Minnesota

Ranked by Minnesota DNR survey data · 2,134 lakes scored

Top largemouth bass lakes

2,134 Minnesota lakes have enough DNR survey data to earn a FishGrade score for largemouth bass; 210 of them are at least 1,000 acres. The top 15 are ranked below by FishGrade's 0–100 score: abundance against the DNR normal range for similar lakes, plus size structure. Lizzie (north portion) leads at 98. Across all 210 qualifying lakes the median score is 65.

See all 2,134 largemouth bass lakes on the map
  1. 1. Lizzie (north portion)

    Otter Tail County · 1,913 acres

    Excellent · 98

    178.6 electrofishing · 100% keeper-size · surveyed 2019

  2. 2. Ten Mile

    Otter Tail County · 1,428 acres

    Excellent · 98

    157.9 electrofishing · 98% keeper-size · surveyed 2024

  3. 3. Long

    Otter Tail County · 1,289 acres

    Excellent · 98

    183.2 electrofishing · 85% keeper-size · surveyed 2019

  4. 4. Fish

    Otter Tail County · 1,078 acres

    Excellent · 98

    184.4 electrofishing · 100% keeper-size · surveyed 2019

  5. 5. Edward

    Crow Wing County · 2,628 acres

    Excellent · 96

    202.8 electrofishing · 62% keeper-size · surveyed 2014

  6. 6. U.S. Lock & Dam #5A Pool

    Winona County · 2,167 acres

    Excellent · 96

    133.6 electrofishing · 88% keeper-size · surveyed 2015

  7. 7. Shamineau

    Morrison County · 1,434 acres

    Excellent · 95

    122.4 electrofishing · 88% keeper-size · surveyed 2016

  8. 8. Minnewaska

    Pope County · 8,050 acres

    Excellent · 94

    108.5 electrofishing · 84% keeper-size · surveyed 2022

  9. 9. U.S. Lock & Dam #6 Pool

    Winona County · 1,719 acres

    Excellent · 94

    111.3 electrofishing · 79% keeper-size · surveyed 2015

  10. 10. Serpent

    Crow Wing County · 1,116 acres

    Excellent · 94

    157.1 electrofishing · 59% keeper-size · surveyed 2014

  11. 11. Rose

    Otter Tail County · 1,200 acres

    Excellent · 92

    131.7 electrofishing · 52% keeper-size · surveyed 2019

  12. 12. U.S. Lock & Dam #5 Pool

    Wabasha County · 6,326 acres

    Excellent · 91

    102.2 electrofishing · 60% keeper-size · surveyed 2015

  13. 13. Sturgeon

    Pine County · 1,706 acres

    Excellent · 91

    85.4 electrofishing · 90% keeper-size · surveyed 2019

  14. 14. Fish Trap

    Morrison County · 1,164 acres

    Excellent · 91

    102.6 electrofishing · 64% keeper-size · surveyed 2024

  15. 15. East Battle

    Otter Tail County · 1,978 acres

    Excellent · 90

    83.7 electrofishing · 70% keeper-size · surveyed 2005

Underrated largemouth bass lakes under 1,000 acres

Smaller waters (100–999 acres) with standout survey numbers and lighter fishing pressure.

  1. 1. Swan

    Otter Tail County · 749 acres

    Excellent · 99

    236.4 electrofishing · 91% keeper-size · surveyed 2022

  2. 2. Long

    Otter Tail County · 767 acres

    Excellent · 98

    194.4 electrofishing · 93% keeper-size · surveyed 2007

  3. 3. West Silent

    Otter Tail County · 347 acres

    Excellent · 98

    262.0 electrofishing · 76% keeper-size · surveyed 2019

  4. 4. School Section

    Stearns County · 211 acres

    Excellent · 98

    180.1 electrofishing · 95% keeper-size · surveyed 2018

  5. 5. DeMontreville

    Washington County · 157 acres

    Excellent · 98

    165.6 electrofishing · 100% keeper-size · surveyed 2017

  6. 6. Wall

    Otter Tail County · 727 acres

    Excellent · 97

    150.4 electrofishing · 93% keeper-size · surveyed 2025

  7. 7. Goose

    Pope County · 324 acres

    Excellent · 97

    138.3 electrofishing · 93% keeper-size · surveyed 2019

  8. 8. Bass

    Otter Tail County · 311 acres

    Excellent · 97

    175.2 electrofishing · surveyed 2014

  9. 9. Adney

    Crow Wing County · 310 acres

    Excellent · 97

    291.8 electrofishing · 67% keeper-size · surveyed 2023

  10. 10. Blackwell

    Douglas County · 307 acres

    Excellent · 97

    181.2 electrofishing · 80% keeper-size · surveyed 2014

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best largemouth bass lake in Minnesota?

Lizzie (north portion) in Otter Tail County is the top-rated largemouth bass lake in Minnesota on FishGrade, scoring 98 out of 100 based on Minnesota DNR survey data. In the latest DNR survey, 100% of catchable largemouth bass were keeper size. Among smaller waters, Swan in Otter Tail County (749 acres) tops the under-1,000-acre list with a score of 99.

How are these rankings calculated?

Each lake's 0-100 FishGrade score blends two signals from Minnesota DNR surveys: abundance, which compares the lake's catch rate to the DNR normal range for similar lakes using the survey gear that best samples largemouth bass, and size, the share of sampled fish reaching keeper size. To keep the list meaningful, the main rankings cover named lakes of at least 1,000 acres, and standout smaller lakes of 100+ acres are listed separately.

How current is this data?

Every ranking uses the most recent Minnesota DNR survey for each lake: survey dates for the ranked lakes run from 2005 to 2024, and 8 of 15 were surveyed within the last 7 years. The DNR resurveys most lakes on a 5-to-10-year cycle, and these rankings update as new surveys are published.

Which counties have the best largemouth bass fishing?

Otter Tail County, Crow Wing County, and Morrison County lead this list, holding 10 of the top 15 largemouth bass lakes in Minnesota between them.