Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best smallmouth bass lakes in Hubbard County
The DNR has surveyed smallmouth bass in 30 lakes in Hubbard County. Of those, 12 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.
East Crooked Lake is first at A−. The DNR caught 49 smallmouth bass per hour of electrofishing in the 2022 survey, and the biggest was 20 inches. Potato Lake is second at A−, with 17.2 smallmouth bass per hour of electrofishing in the 2025 survey, and 36% of its smallmouth bass measured over 15 inches. Boulder Lake is third at B+, and its biggest smallmouth bass was 17 inches.
| # | 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 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.