Best Rock Bass Lakes in Minnesota
Top rock bass lakes
1,260 Minnesota lakes have enough DNR survey data to earn a FishGrade score for rock bass; 219 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. Farm leads at 93. Across all 219 qualifying lakes the median score is 59.
See all 1,260 rock bass lakes on the map| # | Lake | County | Acres | Score | Catch rate | Keeper-size | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Farm | Lake | 1,292 | Excellent · 93 | 6.4per trap net | 42% | 2023 |
| 2 | Dead | Otter Tail | 7,546 | Excellent · 90 | 0.5per trap net | 50% | 2024 |
| 3 | White Iron | St. Louis | 3,237 | Excellent · 90 | 1.3per trap net | 68% | 2023 |
| 4 | North Lida | Otter Tail | 5,523 | Excellent · 89 | 4.4per trap net | 46% | 2018 |
| 5 | Whiteface Reservoir | St. Louis | 4,567 | Excellent · 89 | 1.7per trap net | 53% | 2022 |
| 6 | Bear Island | St. Louis | 2,362 | Excellent · 89 | 7.4per trap net | 33% | 2023 |
| 7 | Strawberry | Becker | 1,498 | Excellent · 89 | 3.5per trap net | 56% | 2022 |
| 8 | Thunder | Cass | 1,347 | Excellent · 88 | 5.3per trap net | 39% | 2023 |
| 9 | Round | Crow Wing | 1,650 | Excellent · 87 | 4.0per trap net | 42% | 2025 |
| 10 | Little Pine | Otter Tail | 2,080 | Excellent · 86 | 6.7per trap net | - | 2017 |
| 11 | Deer | Itasca | 4,093 | Excellent · 85 | 10.0per trap net | 28% | 2023 |
| 12 | Big Cormorant | Becker | 3,657 | Excellent · 85 | 3.5per trap net | 57% | 2023 |
| 13 | Big Sand | Hubbard | 1,639 | Excellent · 85 | 4.1per trap net | 49% | 2020 |
| 14 | Pike Bay | Cass | 4,756 | Excellent · 84 | 4.7per trap net | 39% | 2024 |
| 15 | Siseebakwet | Itasca | 1,210 | Excellent · 84 | 3.3per trap net | 62% | 2024 |
6.4 per trap net · 42% keeper-size · surveyed 2023
- 2. DeadExcellent · 90
Otter Tail County · 7,546 acres
0.5 per trap net · 50% keeper-size · surveyed 2024
- 3. White IronExcellent · 90
St. Louis County · 3,237 acres
1.3 per trap net · 68% keeper-size · surveyed 2023
- 4. North LidaExcellent · 89
Otter Tail County · 5,523 acres
4.4 per trap net · 46% keeper-size · surveyed 2018
- 5. Whiteface ReservoirExcellent · 89
St. Louis County · 4,567 acres
1.7 per trap net · 53% keeper-size · surveyed 2022
- 6. Bear IslandExcellent · 89
St. Louis County · 2,362 acres
7.4 per trap net · 33% keeper-size · surveyed 2023
- 7. StrawberryExcellent · 89
Becker County · 1,498 acres
3.5 per trap net · 56% keeper-size · surveyed 2022
- 8. ThunderExcellent · 88
Cass County · 1,347 acres
5.3 per trap net · 39% keeper-size · surveyed 2023
4.0 per trap net · 42% keeper-size · surveyed 2025
- 10. Little PineExcellent · 86
Otter Tail County · 2,080 acres
6.7 per trap net · surveyed 2017
10.0 per trap net · 28% keeper-size · surveyed 2023
- 12. Big CormorantExcellent · 85
Becker County · 3,657 acres
3.5 per trap net · 57% keeper-size · surveyed 2023
- 13. Big SandExcellent · 85
Hubbard County · 1,639 acres
4.1 per trap net · 49% keeper-size · surveyed 2020
- 14. Pike BayExcellent · 84
Cass County · 4,756 acres
4.7 per trap net · 39% keeper-size · surveyed 2024
- 15. SiseebakwetExcellent · 84
Itasca County · 1,210 acres
3.3 per trap net · 62% keeper-size · surveyed 2024
Underrated rock bass lakes under 1,000 acres
Smaller waters (100–999 acres) with standout survey numbers and lighter fishing pressure.
| # | Lake | County | Acres | Score | Catch rate | Keeper-size | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moenkedick | Otter Tail | 103 | Excellent · 100 | 3.3per trap net | - | 1992 |
| 2 | West Silent | Otter Tail | 347 | Excellent · 96 | 9.0per trap net | 60% | 2014 |
| 3 | Long | Cass | 142 | Excellent · 96 | 4.2per trap net | 67% | 2025 |
| 4 | Fond du Lac Reservoir | Carlton | 201 | Excellent · 95 | 3.9per trap net | 51% | 2015 |
| 5 | Newton | Lake | 516 | Excellent · 93 | 2.1per trap net | 52% | 2018 |
| 6 | McKeown | Cass | 168 | Excellent · 93 | 1.9per trap net | - | 1992 |
| 7 | Moses | Douglas | 824 | Excellent · 91 | 9.4per trap net | 39% | 2022 |
| 8 | Lower Hay | Crow Wing | 700 | Excellent · 91 | 4.3per trap net | 58% | 2024 |
| 9 | Little Sand | Hubbard | 410 | Excellent · 91 | 4.6per trap net | 50% | 2022 |
| 10 | Eunice | Becker | 378 | Excellent · 91 | 3.4per trap net | 49% | 2021 |
- 1. MoenkedickExcellent · 100
Otter Tail County · 103 acres
3.3 per trap net · surveyed 1992
- 2. West SilentExcellent · 96
Otter Tail County · 347 acres
9.0 per trap net · 60% keeper-size · surveyed 2014
4.2 per trap net · 67% keeper-size · surveyed 2025
- 4. Fond du Lac ReservoirExcellent · 95
Carlton County · 201 acres
3.9 per trap net · 51% keeper-size · surveyed 2015
2.1 per trap net · 52% keeper-size · surveyed 2018
- 6. McKeownExcellent · 93
Cass County · 168 acres
1.9 per trap net · surveyed 1992
9.4 per trap net · 39% keeper-size · surveyed 2022
- 8. Lower HayExcellent · 91
Crow Wing County · 700 acres
4.3 per trap net · 58% keeper-size · surveyed 2024
- 9. Little SandExcellent · 91
Hubbard County · 410 acres
4.6 per trap net · 50% keeper-size · surveyed 2022
- 10. EuniceExcellent · 91
Becker County · 378 acres
3.4 per trap net · 49% keeper-size · surveyed 2021
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best rock bass lake in Minnesota?
Farm in Lake County is the top-rated rock bass lake in Minnesota on FishGrade, scoring 93 out of 100 based on Minnesota DNR survey data. The latest DNR survey measured 6.4 rock bass per trap net, with 42% of catchable fish at keeper size. Among smaller waters, Moenkedick in Otter Tail County (103 acres) tops the under-1,000-acre list with a score of 100.
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 rock 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 2017 to 2025, and 13 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 rock bass fishing?
Otter Tail County, St. Louis County, and Becker County lead this list, holding 8 of the top 15 rock bass lakes in Minnesota between them.