Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best largemouth bass lakes in Douglas County
The DNR has surveyed largemouth bass in 62 lakes in Douglas County. Of those, 43 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.
Lake Mary is first at A. The DNR caught 43.5 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 20 inches. Chippewa Lake is second at A, with 72 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in the 2025 survey, and 17% of its largemouth bass measured over 15 inches. Lake Ida is third at A, and its biggest largemouth bass was 19 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 15" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Mary | A | 2,450 | 43.5/hr in electrofishing | 27% | 20" | 1.4 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Chippewa Lake | A | 1,186 | 72/hr in electrofishing | 17% | 19" | 1.2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Lake Ida | A | 4,445 | 37.5/hr in electrofishing | 19% | 19" | 1.2 lb | 2023 |
| 4 | Lake Oscar | A− | 997 | 68/hr in electrofishing | 22% | 18" | 0.8 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Lake Le Homme Dieu | A− | 1,801 | 37.7/hr in electrofishing | 15% | 18" | 0.7 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Lake Aaron | A− | 610 | 74/hr in electrofishing | 8% | 18" | 1.2 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Lake Darling | A− | 1,050 | 44.5/hr in electrofishing | 17% | 18" | 1.3 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Lake Andrew | A− | 923 | 53.6/hr in electrofishing | 15% | 17" | 0.9 lb | 2024 |
| 9 | Lake Geneva | A− | 640 | 51.9/hr in electrofishing | 15% | 18" | 0.9 lb | 2024 |
| 10 | Freeborn Lake | A− | 248 | 77.1/hr in electrofishing | 15% | 19" | 1.1 lb | 2020 |
Also ranked in Douglas County: Walleye · Northern pike · Smallmouth bass · 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.