Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best largemouth bass lakes in Grant County
The DNR has surveyed largemouth bass in 8 lakes in Grant County. The 8 ranked below are the ones that earn a grade on this site. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Pelican Lake is first at A. The DNR caught 33.4 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 19 inches. Elk Lake is second at A−, with 96.7 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in the 2021 survey, and 70% of its largemouth bass measured over 15 inches. Pomme de Terre Lake is third at A−, and its biggest largemouth bass was 18 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 15" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pelican Lake | A | 3,761 | 33.4/hr in electrofishing | 37% | 19" | 2.5 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Elk Lake | A− | 207 | 96.7/hr in electrofishing | 70% | 19" | 1.7 lb | 2021 |
| 3 | Pomme de Terre Lake | A− | 1,816 | 32.9/hr in electrofishing | 31% | 18" | 1.1 lb | 2023 |
| 4 | Thompson Lake | B+ | 154 | 59.3/hr in electrofishing | 45% | 19" | 1.1 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Barrett Lake | B− | 530 | 20.5/hr in electrofishing | 33% | 18" | 1.2 lb | 2023 |
| 6 | Lightning Lake | C+ | 541 | — | 20% | 15" | 1.3 lb | 2023 |
| 7 | Cottonwood Lake | C | 255 | 13.6/hr in electrofishing | 77% | 18" | 1.7 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Lower Elk Lake | C− | 131 | 21.3/hr in electrofishing | 11% | 18" | 0.7 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked in Grant County: Walleye · Northern pike · 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.