Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best smallmouth bass lakes in Minnesota
730 surveyed smallmouth bass lakes sit across Minnesota; 420 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 25 are ranked here.
Mille Lacs Lake leads at grade A+, with 34.4 smallmouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2025 survey and a 22-inch fish the biggest measured. Deer Lake is next at A, 50.9 smallmouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2023 survey, 29% of the smallmouth bass netted over 15 inches. Clearwater Lake rounds out the top three at A, a 20-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | 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 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.