Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best smallmouth bass lakes in Itasca County
73 surveyed smallmouth bass lakes sit in Itasca County; 36 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.
Deer Lake leads at grade A, with 50.9 smallmouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2023 survey and a 20-inch fish the biggest measured. Three Island Lake is next at A, 121.9 smallmouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2012 survey, 9% of the smallmouth bass netted over 15 inches. Island Lake rounds out the top three at A, a 17-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 15" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deer Lake | A | 4,094 | 50.9/hr in electrofishing | 29% | 20" | 1.8 lb | 2023 |
| 2 | Three Island Lake | A | 250 | 121.9/hr in electrofishing | 9% | 20" | 1.7 lb | 2012 |
| 3 | Island Lake | A | 3,108 | 63.2/hr in electrofishing | 21% | 17" | 1.2 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Pokegama Lake | A− | 6,721 | 17/hr in electrofishing | 67% | 18" | 2.4 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Turtle Lake | A− | 2,126 | 19.9/hr in electrofishing | 51% | 20" | 2.5 lb | 2017 |
| 6 | Hatch Lake | A− | 226 | 54.2/hr in electrofishing | 64% | 19" | 2.7 lb | 2013 |
| 7 | Spider Lake | B+ | 1,393 | 9.3/hr in electrofishing | 54% | 18" | 1.5 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Deer Lake | B+ | 1,855 | 6.3/hr in electrofishing | 75% | 19" | 2.2 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Bass Lake | B | 122 | — | 50% | 20" | 1.8 lb | 2020 |
| 10 | Trout Lake | B | 1,862 | — | 60% | 20" | 2.2 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Itasca 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.