Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best largemouth bass lakes near St. Paul
151 surveyed largemouth bass lakes sit within 25 miles of St. Paul; 47 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.
Long Lake leads at grade A, with 107.3 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2023 survey and a 20-inch fish the biggest measured. Big Marine Lake is next at A−, 103.6 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2024 survey, 3% of the largemouth bass netted over 15 inches. DeMontreville 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 | Long Lake | A | 285 | 107.3/hr in electrofishing | 13% | 20" | 2.7 lb | 2023 |
| 2 | Big Marine Lake | A− | 1,799 | 103.6/hr in electrofishing | 3% | 18" | 0.8 lb | 2024 |
| 3 | DeMontreville Lake | A− | 157 | 100.9/hr in electrofishing | 35% | 18" | 2.1 lb | 2019 |
| 4 | Forest Lake | A− | 2,271 | 62.2/hr in electrofishing | 5% | 16" | 0.9 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | White Bear Lake | A− | 2,428 | 26/hr in electrofishing | 17% | 18" | 1.3 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Orchard Lake | B+ | 238 | 66.6/hr in electrofishing | 18% | 19" | 1.3 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Crooked Lake | B+ | 115 | 81.6/hr in electrofishing | 23% | 19" | 0.2 lb | 2021 |
| 8 | Mitchell Lake | B+ | 114 | 57.3/hr in electrofishing | 41% | 20" | 1 lb | 2021 |
| 9 | Jane Lake | B+ | 158 | 63.3/hr in electrofishing | 24% | 18" | 1.3 lb | 2019 |
| 10 | Bald Eagle Lake | B | 1,049 | 27/hr in electrofishing | 5% | 16" | 0.6 lb | 2022 |
Also ranked near St. Paul: Walleye · Northern pike · Muskellunge · 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.