Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best largemouth bass lakes in Carver County
31 surveyed largemouth bass lakes sit in Carver County; 16 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.
Hydes Lake leads at grade B, with 49.4 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2017 survey and a 19-inch fish the biggest measured. Bavaria Lake is next at B, 44.1 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2025 survey, 15% of the largemouth bass netted over 15 inches. Lotus Lake rounds out the top three at B, a 19-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | 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 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.