Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best smallmouth bass lakes in Lake County
75 surveyed smallmouth bass lakes sit in Lake County; 48 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.
Newton Lake leads at grade B, a 20-inch fish the biggest measured. Fall Lake is next at B, 100% of the smallmouth bass netted over 15 inches. Basswood Lake rounds out the top three at B, a 20-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 15" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newton Lake | B | 516 | — | 53% | 20" | 1.9 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Fall Lake | B | 2,259 | — | 100% | 20" | 4.1 lb | 2022 |
| 3 | Basswood Lake | B | 25,953 | — | 55% | 20" | 2 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Knife Lake | B | 4,920 | — | 73% | 20" | 2.7 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Little Knife Lake | B− | 700 | — | 50% | 19" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Crooked Lake | B− | 10,360 | — | 26% | 19" | 1.9 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Triangle Lake | B− | 300 | — | 33% | 19" | 1.9 lb | 2020 |
| 8 | Wind Lake | B− | 926 | — | 27% | 19" | 1.5 lb | 2011 |
| 9 | Moose Lake | B− | 1,301 | — | 24% | 19" | 1.3 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Delay Lake | B− | 102 | — | 23% | 18" | 1 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Lake 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.