Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best largemouth bass lakes in Beltrami County
The DNR has surveyed largemouth bass in 60 lakes in Beltrami County. Of those, 32 earn a grade on this site, and the top 10 are ranked below. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Moose Lake is first at A−. The DNR caught 56 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in the 2021 survey, and the biggest was 20 inches. Bemidji (main lake) is second at B+, with 16.2 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in the 2022 survey, and none of its largemouth bass measured over 15 inches. Movil Lake is third at B+, and its biggest largemouth bass was 17 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 15" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moose Lake | A− | 601 | 56/hr in electrofishing | 16% | 20" | 0.8 lb | 2021 |
| 2 | Bemidji (main lake) | B+ | 6,596 | 16.2/hr in electrofishing | 0% | — | — | 2022 |
| 3 | Movil Lake | B+ | 855 | 39.2/hr in electrofishing | 11% | 17" | 0.8 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Turtle Lake | B+ | 1,607 | 18.9/hr in electrofishing | 38% | 19" | 1.4 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Sandy Lake | B | 261 | 43.4/hr in electrofishing | 28% | 18" | 0.9 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Beltrami Lake | B | 726 | 29.6/hr in electrofishing | 13% | 18" | 1.1 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Julia Lake | B | 511 | 33.8/hr in electrofishing | 6% | 17" | 0.7 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | North Twin Lake | B | 326 | 49.8/hr in electrofishing | 3% | 18" | 0.5 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Turtle River Lake | B− | 1,740 | 15/hr in electrofishing | 21% | 17" | 0.8 lb | 2023 |
| 10 | Dellwater Lake | B− | 199 | — | 40% | 19" | 1.6 lb | 2020 |
Also ranked in Beltrami County: Walleye · Northern pike · Muskellunge · Crappie · Bluegill · Yellow perch
All of Minnesota: Best largemouth bass lakes in Minnesota
Grades are based on Minnesota DNR survey data: how many fish the DNR caught (scaled by lake size), how many reached quality size, and the biggest fish measured. Each lake's page has the numbers behind its grade. The table shows each lake's most recent survey year.