Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best smallmouth bass lakes in Douglas County
20 surveyed smallmouth bass lakes sit in Douglas County; the 9 ranked here 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.
Lake Carlos leads at grade B, with 3.9 smallmouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2024 survey and a 20-inch fish the biggest measured. Lake Miltona is next at B−, 13% of the smallmouth bass netted over 15 inches. Lobster 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 | Lake Carlos | B | 2,605 | 3.9/hr in electrofishing | 63% | 20" | 1.9 lb | 2024 |
| 2 | Lake Miltona | B− | 5,731 | — | 13% | 18" | 0.7 lb | 2023 |
| 3 | Lobster Lake | B− | 1,334 | — | 33% | 18" | 1.5 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Lake Geneva | C+ | 640 | 3.1/hr in electrofishing | 0% | — | — | 2024 |
| 5 | Lake Darling | C+ | 1,050 | — | 0% | 6" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Grant Lake | C+ | 177 | — | 0% | 7" | 0.3 lb | 2022 |
| 7 | Lake Latoka | C | 767 | 2.3/hr in electrofishing | 89% | 18" | 2.2 lb | 2022 |
| 8 | Lake Ida | C | 4,445 | 1.1/hr in electrofishing | 28% | 18" | 1.3 lb | 2023 |
| 9 | Maple Lake | C | 831 | 1.3/hr in electrofishing | 60% | 18" | 2.1 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Douglas County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth bass · 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.