Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best largemouth bass lakes in Aitkin County
84 surveyed largemouth bass lakes sit in Aitkin County; 40 cleared this site's grade rubric, which reads DNR survey catch rates, size structure and trophy history the same way the live map does for every lake. The top 10 are ranked here.
Lone Lake leads at grade A, with 115 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2024 survey and a 19-inch fish the biggest measured. Hammal Lake is next at A−, 97.2 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2022 survey, 11% of the largemouth bass netted over 15 inches. Dam Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 19-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 15" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lone Lake | A | 434 | 115/hr in electrofishing | 8% | 19" | 0.9 lb | 2024 |
| 2 | Hammal Lake | A− | 376 | 97.2/hr in electrofishing | 11% | 18" | 1 lb | 2022 |
| 3 | Dam Lake | A− | 598 | 42.1/hr in electrofishing | 27% | 19" | 1.4 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Long Lake | B+ | 435 | 60/hr in electrofishing | 13% | 18" | 1.4 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Clear Lake | B+ | 574 | 48.8/hr in electrofishing | 5% | 20" | 0.6 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Cedar Lake | B+ | 1,726 | 34.6/hr in electrofishing | 10% | 17" | 1 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Round Lake | B+ | 554 | 81.5/hr in electrofishing | 4% | 16" | 0.9 lb | 2022 |
| 8 | Wilkins Lake | B+ | 349 | 63.3/hr in electrofishing | 6% | 18" | 0.7 lb | 2024 |
| 9 | Hill Lake | B+ | 794 | 19/hr in electrofishing | 64% | 21" | 1.7 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Sunset Lake | B+ | 221 | 76.8/hr in electrofishing | 5% | 19" | 0.8 lb | 2011 |
Also ranked in Aitkin County: Walleye · Northern pike · Smallmouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill · Yellow perch
All of Minnesota: Best largemouth bass lakes in Minnesota
Grades are this site's rubric over Minnesota DNR survey data (catch per unit effort against DNR benchmarks, size structure, trophy history). See any lake's page for the underlying numbers. Survey years vary by lake; the table shows each lake's latest.