Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best smallmouth bass lakes in Minnesota
The DNR has surveyed smallmouth bass in 730 Minnesota lakes. Of those, 420 earn a grade on this site, and the top 25 are ranked below. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Mille Lacs Lake is first at A+. The DNR caught 34.4 smallmouth bass per hour of electrofishing in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 22 inches. Deer Lake is second at A, with 50.9 smallmouth bass per hour of electrofishing in the 2023 survey, and 29% of its smallmouth bass measured over 15 inches. Clearwater Lake is third at A, and its biggest smallmouth bass was 20 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 15" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mille Lacs Lake | A+ | 128,250 | 34.4/hr in electrofishing | 56% | 22" | 1.7 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Deer Lake | A | 4,094 | 50.9/hr in electrofishing | 29% | 20" | 1.8 lb | 2023 |
| 3 | Clearwater Lake | A | 906 | 89.2/hr in electrofishing | 28% | 20" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Rainy Lake | A | 210,200 | 33.3/hr in electrofishing | 4% | 19" | 1.2 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Black Duck Lake | A | 1,250 | 233.4/hr in electrofishing | 5% | 19" | 1.7 lb | 2023 |
| 6 | Big Birch Lake | A | 2,107 | 33/hr in electrofishing | 70% | 20" | 2.2 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Vermilion Lake | A | 39,272 | 94.2/hr in electrofishing | 8% | 18" | 1 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Three Island Lake | A | 250 | 121.9/hr in electrofishing | 9% | 20" | 1.7 lb | 2012 |
| 9 | Ash Lake | A | 690 | 189.3/hr in electrofishing | 6% | 18" | 1.3 lb | 2023 |
| 10 | Island Lake | A | 3,108 | 63.2/hr in electrofishing | 21% | 17" | 1.2 lb | 2024 |
| 11 | Crane Lake | A | 2,921 | 26.5/hr in electrofishing | 16% | 19" | 1 lb | 2025 |
| 12 | Pokegama Lake | A− | 6,721 | 17/hr in electrofishing | 67% | 18" | 2.4 lb | 2024 |
| 13 | Alexander Lake | A− | 2,709 | 25.3/hr in electrofishing | 35% | 19" | 1.4 lb | 2025 |
| 14 | Kabetogama Lake | A− | 24,034 | 24.3/hr in electrofishing | 3% | 19" | 1.4 lb | 2025 |
| 15 | Pelican Lake | A− | 11,546 | 19.5/hr in electrofishing | 34% | 17" | 1.6 lb | 2022 |
| 16 | Eagles Nest #3 Lake | A− | 1,028 | 35.2/hr in electrofishing | 47% | 19" | 1.7 lb | 2025 |
| 17 | Turtle Lake | A− | 2,126 | 19.9/hr in electrofishing | 51% | 20" | 2.5 lb | 2017 |
| 18 | Hubert Lake | A− | 1,301 | 29.1/hr in electrofishing | 54% | 19" | 1.9 lb | 2025 |
| 19 | Woman Lake | A− | 5,520 | 15.9/hr in electrofishing | 36% | 19" | 1.1 lb | 2025 |
| 20 | Thunder Lake | A− | 1,347 | 27.5/hr in electrofishing | 61% | 19" | 2.3 lb | 2025 |
| 21 | East Twin Lake | A− | 357 | 87.8/hr in electrofishing | 25% | 17" | 1 lb | 2024 |
| 22 | East Crooked Lake | A− | 379 | 49/hr in electrofishing | 27% | 20" | 0.8 lb | 2022 |
| 23 | Low Lake | A− | 316 | 56.7/hr in electrofishing | 25% | 19" | 1.8 lb | 2024 |
| 24 | Hatch Lake | A− | 226 | 54.2/hr in electrofishing | 64% | 19" | 2.7 lb | 2013 |
| 25 | Big Kandiyohi Lake | A− | 2,730 | 24.7/hr in electrofishing | 67% | 17" | 2.1 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked statewide: Walleye · Northern pike · Muskellunge · Largemouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill · Yellow perch
Smallmouth bass by county: Aitkin · Becker · Cass · Cook · Crow Wing · Douglas · Hubbard · Itasca · Kandiyohi · Lake · Meeker · Morrison · Otter Tail · St. Louis · Stearns · Todd
Smallmouth bass near a city: St. Cloud · Brainerd · Bemidji · Grand Rapids · Alexandria · Willmar
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.