Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best smallmouth bass lakes in Cook County
The DNR has surveyed smallmouth bass in 106 lakes in Cook County. Of those, 54 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.
Hungry Jack Lake is first at B+. The DNR caught 25.8 smallmouth bass per hour of electrofishing in the 2020 survey, and the biggest was 18 inches. Caribou Lake is second at B+, with 21.6 smallmouth bass per hour of electrofishing in the 2025 survey, and 7% of its smallmouth bass measured over 15 inches. Greenwood Lake is third at B, and its biggest smallmouth bass was 13 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 15" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hungry Jack Lake | B+ | 474 | 25.8/hr in electrofishing | 40% | 18" | 1.3 lb | 2020 |
| 2 | Caribou Lake | B+ | 721 | 21.6/hr in electrofishing | 7% | 18" | 0.4 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Greenwood Lake | B | 2,043 | 8.9/hr in electrofishing | 0% | 13" | 0.7 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Bower Trout Lake | B | 133 | — | 17% | 20" | 1.6 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | John Lake | B | 191 | — | 67% | 20" | 2.6 lb | 2016 |
| 6 | Devil Track Lake | B− | 1,876 | — | 43% | 19" | 1.3 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Two Island Lake | B− | 754 | — | 28% | 19" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Bearskin Lake | B− | 509 | — | 25% | 19" | 1.1 lb | 2023 |
| 9 | Northern Light Lake | B− | 378 | — | 53% | 19" | 2 lb | 2021 |
| 10 | Brule Lake | B− | 4,327 | — | 19% | 18" | 1.9 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked in Cook County: Walleye · Northern pike · Crappie · Bluegill · Yellow perch
All of Minnesota: Best smallmouth 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.