Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best smallmouth bass lakes in Hubbard County
30 surveyed smallmouth bass lakes sit in Hubbard County; 12 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.
East Crooked Lake leads at grade A−, with 49 smallmouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2022 survey and a 20-inch fish the biggest measured. Potato Lake is next at A−, 17.2 smallmouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2025 survey, 36% of the smallmouth bass netted over 15 inches. Boulder Lake rounds out the top three at B+, a 17-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 15" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Crooked Lake | A− | 379 | 49/hr in electrofishing | 27% | 20" | 0.8 lb | 2022 |
| 2 | Potato Lake | A− | 2,096 | 17.2/hr in electrofishing | 36% | 18" | 1.7 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Boulder Lake | B+ | 341 | 29.5/hr in electrofishing | 8% | 17" | 0.7 lb | 2023 |
| 4 | Kabekona Lake | B | 2,433 | 4.8/hr in electrofishing | 33% | 20" | 1.8 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Big Sand Lake | B | 1,639 | — | 17% | 20" | 1.6 lb | 2023 |
| 6 | Belle Taine Lake | B− | 1,497 | 5.3/hr in electrofishing | 22% | 16" | 1.1 lb | 2021 |
| 7 | Long Lake | C+ | 1,926 | — | 100% | 16" | 2.3 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Blue Lake | C+ | 336 | — | 25% | 15" | 1.1 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Eleventh Crow Wing Lake | C+ | 751 | — | 0% | 13" | 1.4 lb | 2021 |
| 10 | Upper Bottle Lake | C+ | 459 | — | 0% | 10" | 0.7 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked in Hubbard 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.