Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best largemouth bass lakes in Clearwater County
28 surveyed largemouth bass lakes sit in Clearwater County; 11 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.
Elk Lake leads at grade B−, with 50.7 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2025 survey and a 17-inch fish the biggest measured. Minerva Lake is next at B−, 53% of the largemouth bass netted over 15 inches. Pickerel Lake rounds out the top three at B−, a 18-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 15" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elk Lake | B− | 303 | 50.7/hr in electrofishing | 2% | 17" | 0.9 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Minerva Lake | B− | 230 | — | 53% | 19" | 2.1 lb | 2016 |
| 3 | Pickerel Lake | B− | 143 | — | 9% | 18" | 1 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Heart Lake | B− | 225 | — | 5% | 17" | 0.7 lb | 2013 |
| 5 | Itasca Lake | B− | 1,065 | — | 50% | 17" | 2.2 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Long Lost Lake | C+ | 539 | — | 13% | 16" | 1.1 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Ozawindib Lake | C+ | 159 | 29.1/hr in electrofishing | 11% | 19" | 0.7 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Rockstad Lake | C+ | 142 | — | 0% | 14" | 1.5 lb | 2014 |
| 9 | Pine Lake | C+ | 1,236 | — | 0% | 14" | 1.6 lb | 2023 |
| 10 | Long Lake | C+ | 159 | — | 0% | 14" | 0.4 lb | 2022 |
Also ranked in Clearwater 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.