Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best smallmouth bass lakes in Cook County
106 surveyed smallmouth bass lakes sit in Cook County; 54 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.
Hungry Jack Lake leads at grade B+, with 25.8 smallmouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2020 survey and a 18-inch fish the biggest measured. Caribou Lake is next at B+, 21.6 smallmouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2025 survey, 7% of the smallmouth bass netted over 15 inches. Greenwood Lake rounds out the top three at B, a 13-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | 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 | — | 30% | 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 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.