Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best largemouth bass lakes in Grant County
8 surveyed largemouth bass lakes sit in Grant County; the 8 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.
Pelican Lake leads at grade A, with 33.4 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2025 survey and a 19-inch fish the biggest measured. Elk Lake is next at A−, 96.7 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2021 survey, 70% of the largemouth bass netted over 15 inches. Pomme de Terre Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 18-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | 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 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.