Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best largemouth bass lakes in Carver County
The DNR has surveyed largemouth bass in 31 lakes in Carver County. Of those, 16 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.
Hydes Lake is first at B. The DNR caught 49.4 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in the 2017 survey, and the biggest was 19 inches. Bavaria Lake is second at B, with 44.1 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in the 2025 survey, and 15% of its largemouth bass measured over 15 inches. Lotus 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 | Hydes Lake | B | 222 | 49.4/hr in electrofishing | 15% | 19" | 0.6 lb | 2017 |
| 2 | Bavaria Lake | B | 167 | 44.1/hr in electrofishing | 15% | 20" | 1.2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Lotus Lake | B | 245 | 34.4/hr in electrofishing | 20% | 19" | 1 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Steiger Lake | B | 166 | — | 50% | 20" | 1.9 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Waconia Lake | B− | 3,080 | — | 16% | 19" | 0.9 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Wassermann Lake | B− | 170 | — | 42% | 18" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Swede Lake | B− | 433 | — | 28% | 17" | 1 lb | 2021 |
| 8 | Ann Lake | C+ | 116 | 34.1/hr in electrofishing | 22% | 19" | 0.8 lb | 2023 |
| 9 | Piersons Lake | C+ | 267 | — | 18% | 16" | 0.8 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Zumbra-Sunny Lake | C+ | 271 | — | 7% | 15" | 0.6 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Carver 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.