Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best largemouth bass lakes near Duluth
29 surveyed largemouth bass lakes sit within 25 miles of Duluth; the 10 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.
Chub Lake leads at grade A−, with 149 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2020 survey and a 17-inch fish the biggest measured. Fish Lake Flowage is next at A−, 21.9 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2025 survey, 21% of the largemouth bass netted over 15 inches. Schultz Lake rounds out the top three at B+, a 17-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 15" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chub Lake | A− | 313 | 149/hr in electrofishing | 27% | 17" | 1.1 lb | 2020 |
| 2 | Fish Lake Flowage | A− | 3,259 | 21.9/hr in electrofishing | 21% | 20" | 1.1 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Schultz Lake | B+ | 210 | 113.5/hr in electrofishing | 9% | 17" | 0.5 lb | 2012 |
| 4 | Wild Rice Lake | B+ | 2,372 | 17.5/hr in electrofishing | 31% | 19" | 2.2 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Pike Lake | B | 488 | 33.5/hr in electrofishing | 28% | 18" | 1.4 lb | 2019 |
| 6 | Island Lake Reservoir | B− | 8,001 | — | 75% | 19" | 2.8 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Grand Lake | B− | 1,665 | 14.6/hr in electrofishing | 16% | 17" | 1.3 lb | 2019 |
| 8 | Little Grand Lake | C+ | 176 | — | 4% | 16" | 0.9 lb | 2008 |
| 9 | Barrs Lake | C+ | 125 | — | 0% | 14" | 1.7 lb | 2009 |
| 10 | Caribou Lake | C | 539 | 12.3/hr in electrofishing | 41% | 18" | 0.6 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked near Duluth: Walleye · Northern pike · 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.