Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best largemouth bass lakes in Scott County
15 surveyed largemouth bass lakes sit in Scott County; the 8 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.
O'Dowd Lake leads at grade B+, with 54.5 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2022 survey and a 20-inch fish the biggest measured. Cedar Lake is next at B, 33% of the largemouth bass netted over 15 inches. Thole Lake rounds out the top three at B−, a 20-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 15" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | O'Dowd Lake | B+ | 301 | 54.5/hr in electrofishing | 4% | 20" | 0.9 lb | 2022 |
| 2 | Cedar Lake | B | 793 | — | 33% | 20" | 1.9 lb | 2021 |
| 3 | Thole Lake | B− | 119 | 30.4/hr in electrofishing | 45% | 20" | 1.9 lb | 2023 |
| 4 | McMahon Lake | B− | 187 | — | 45% | 17" | 1.5 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Lower Prior Lake | B− | 956 | — | 6% | 17" | 0.6 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Cleary Lake | C+ | 145 | — | 0% | 14" | 0.7 lb | 2017 |
| 7 | Upper Prior Lake | C | 386 | 18.2/hr in electrofishing | 13% | 16" | 0.9 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Spring Lake | C− | 592 | 9.5/hr in electrofishing | 26% | 18" | 0.9 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Scott 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.