Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best largemouth bass lakes in Blue Earth County
The DNR has surveyed largemouth bass in 13 lakes in Blue Earth County. The 5 ranked below are the ones that earn a grade on this site. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Lura Lake is first at A−. The DNR caught 34.3 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in the 2023 survey, and the biggest was 20 inches. Madison Lake is second at B+, with 22.2 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in the 2025 survey, and 23% of its largemouth bass measured over 15 inches. Ballantyne Lake is third at B, and its biggest largemouth bass was 19 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 15" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lura Lake | A− | 1,359 | 34.3/hr in electrofishing | 16% | 20" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
| 2 | Madison Lake | B+ | 1,447 | 22.2/hr in electrofishing | 23% | 19" | 2.2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Ballantyne Lake | B | 371 | 34.2/hr in electrofishing | 21% | 19" | 1.7 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Duck Lake | C+ | 290 | 20.1/hr in electrofishing | 24% | 20" | — | 2025 |
| 5 | Mills Lake | C+ | 237 | — | 14% | 15" | 0.8 lb | 2007 |
Also ranked in Blue Earth County: Walleye · Northern pike · 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.