Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best largemouth bass lakes near Mankato
40 surveyed largemouth bass lakes sit within 25 miles of Mankato; 19 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.
Elysian (Main Lake) leads at grade A, with 67.7 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2023 survey and a 18-inch fish the biggest measured. Middle Jefferson Lake is next at A, 58.4 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2018 survey, 27% of the largemouth bass netted over 15 inches. Frances Lake rounds out the top three at A, a 18-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 15" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elysian (Main Lake) | A | 2,215 | 67.7/hr in electrofishing | 14% | 18" | 1.5 lb | 2023 |
| 2 | Middle Jefferson Lake | A | 667 | 58.4/hr in electrofishing | 27% | 20" | 2.1 lb | 2018 |
| 3 | Frances Lake | A | 927 | 103.6/hr in electrofishing | 12% | 18" | 1.1 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Lura Lake | A− | 1,359 | 34.3/hr in electrofishing | 16% | 20" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Reeds Lake | B+ | 195 | 68.9/hr in electrofishing | 33% | 17" | 1.2 lb | 2022 |
| 6 | Madison Lake | B+ | 1,447 | 22.2/hr in electrofishing | 23% | 19" | 2.2 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | West Jefferson Lake | B+ | 439 | 54.9/hr in electrofishing | 8% | 18" | 0.8 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Horseshoe Lake | B+ | 417 | 45/hr in electrofishing | 17% | 18" | 2 lb | 2024 |
| 9 | Ballantyne Lake | B | 371 | 34.2/hr in electrofishing | 21% | 19" | 1.7 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | East Jefferson Lake | B | 685 | 18.4/hr in electrofishing | 40% | 19" | 3.4 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked near Mankato: 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.