Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best largemouth bass lakes near Alexandria
96 surveyed largemouth bass lakes sit within 25 miles of Alexandria; 71 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.
Sauk Lake leads at grade A+, with 65 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2025 survey and a 21-inch fish the biggest measured. Lake Minnewaska is next at A, 108.5 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2025 survey, 6% of the largemouth bass netted over 15 inches. Lake Mary rounds out the top three at A, a 20-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 15" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sauk Lake | A+ | 2,126 | 65/hr in electrofishing | 57% | 21" | 1.9 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Lake Minnewaska | A | 8,050 | 108.5/hr in electrofishing | 6% | 19" | 1.1 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Lake Mary | A | 2,450 | 43.5/hr in electrofishing | 27% | 20" | 1.4 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Pelican Lake | A | 3,761 | 33.4/hr in electrofishing | 37% | 19" | 2.5 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Chippewa Lake | A | 1,186 | 72/hr in electrofishing | 17% | 19" | 1.2 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Lake Ida | A | 4,445 | 37.5/hr in electrofishing | 19% | 19" | 1.2 lb | 2023 |
| 7 | Pelican Lake | A | 518 | 90/hr in electrofishing | 19% | 19" | 1.4 lb | 2022 |
| 8 | Fairy Lake | A | 307 | 105.3/hr in electrofishing | 10% | 20" | 1.4 lb | 2024 |
| 9 | Elk Lake | A− | 207 | 96.7/hr in electrofishing | 70% | 19" | 1.7 lb | 2021 |
| 10 | Lake Reno | A− | 3,809 | 29/hr in electrofishing | 51% | 18" | 1 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked near Alexandria: Walleye · Northern pike · Smallmouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill · Yellow perch
All of Minnesota: Best largemouth 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.