Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best largemouth bass lakes near Duluth
The DNR has surveyed largemouth bass in 29 lakes within 25 miles of Duluth. The 10 ranked below are the ones that earn a grade on this site. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Chub Lake is first at A−. The DNR caught 149 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in the 2020 survey, and the biggest was 17 inches. Fish Lake Flowage is second at A−, with 21.9 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in the 2025 survey, and 21% of its largemouth bass measured over 15 inches. Schultz Lake is third at B+, and its biggest largemouth bass was 17 inches.
| # | 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 | — | 88% | 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 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.