Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best largemouth bass lakes in Pine County
42 surveyed largemouth bass lakes sit in Pine County; 11 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.
Sand Lake leads at grade B+, with 39.5 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2025 survey and a 19-inch fish the biggest measured. Bass Lake is next at B−, 27.7 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2019 survey, 20% of the largemouth bass netted over 15 inches. Fox Lake rounds out the top three at B−, a 18-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 15" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sand Lake | B+ | 527 | 39.5/hr in electrofishing | 14% | 19" | 0.9 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Bass Lake | B− | 229 | 27.7/hr in electrofishing | 20% | 20" | 1.1 lb | 2019 |
| 3 | Fox Lake | B− | 200 | 29.5/hr in electrofishing | 44% | 18" | 0.6 lb | 2014 |
| 4 | Cross Lake | B− | 925 | 18.6/hr in electrofishing | 26% | 15" | — | 2025 |
| 5 | Dago Lake | C+ | 118 | 34.1/hr in electrofishing | 20% | 19" | 1.4 lb | 2006 |
| 6 | Grindstone Lake | C+ | 533 | 17.5/hr in electrofishing | 11% | 18" | 1.2 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Upper Pine Lake | C | 233 | 18.9/hr in electrofishing | 43% | 18" | 1.8 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Oak Lake | C | 459 | 12.1/hr in electrofishing | 54% | 18" | 2.5 lb | 2023 |
| 9 | Big Pine Lake | C | 399 | 10.9/hr in electrofishing | 52% | 19" | 1.6 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Sturgeon Lake | C | 1,706 | 9.3/hr in electrofishing | 3% | 16" | 0.9 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Pine County: 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.