Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best smallmouth bass lakes in Meeker County
8 surveyed smallmouth bass lakes sit in Meeker County; the 5 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.
Manuella Lake leads at grade B−, a 19-inch fish the biggest measured. Washington Lake is next at B−, 31% of the smallmouth bass netted over 15 inches. Ripley (west portion) Lake rounds out the top three at B−, a 18-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 15" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manuella Lake | B− | 293 | — | 50% | 19" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Washington Lake | B− | 2,438 | — | 31% | 18" | 1.5 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Ripley (west portion) Lake | B− | 614 | — | 100% | 18" | 3.7 lb | 2023 |
| 4 | Big Swan Lake | C+ | 684 | — | 13% | 16" | 1 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Stella Lake | C | 599 | 1.3/hr in electrofishing | 48% | 19" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Meeker 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.