Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best largemouth bass lakes near Brainerd
The DNR has surveyed largemouth bass in 194 lakes within 25 miles of Brainerd. Of those, 106 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.
Gull Lake is first at A+. The DNR caught 66.3 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 19 inches. Whitefish Lake is second at A, with 45.6 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in the 2025 survey, and 20% of its largemouth bass measured over 15 inches. White Sand Lake is third at A, and its biggest largemouth bass was 19 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 15" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gull Lake | A+ | 10,010 | 66.3/hr in electrofishing | 24% | 19" | 1.1 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Whitefish Lake | A | 7,714 | 45.6/hr in electrofishing | 20% | 19" | 0.7 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | White Sand Lake | A | 415 | 122/hr in electrofishing | 47% | 19" | 1.5 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Alexander Lake | A | 2,709 | 73.8/hr in electrofishing | 24% | 18" | 1.4 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Hubert Lake | A | 1,301 | 59.2/hr in electrofishing | 44% | 19" | 0.9 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | North Long Lake | A | 6,190 | 36.7/hr in electrofishing | 17% | 18" | 1.2 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Gladstone Lake | A | 437 | 101/hr in electrofishing | 29% | 18" | 1.9 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Bay Lake | A | 2,330 | 67.1/hr in electrofishing | 15% | 17" | 1.1 lb | 2021 |
| 9 | Bass Lake | A | 285 | 93.6/hr in electrofishing | 17% | 20" | 1 lb | 2016 |
| 10 | Horseshoe Lake | A− | 922 | 51.1/hr in electrofishing | 26% | 19" | 1.5 lb | 2022 |
Also ranked near Brainerd: Walleye · Northern pike · Muskellunge · Smallmouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill · Yellow perch
All of Minnesota: Best largemouth 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.