Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best largemouth bass lakes in St. Louis County
215 surveyed largemouth bass lakes sit in St. Louis County; 77 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.
Pelican Lake leads at grade A, with 42.9 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2022 survey and a 18-inch fish the biggest measured. Fish Lake Flowage is next at A−, 21.9 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2025 survey, 21% of the largemouth bass netted over 15 inches. Wolf Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 19-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 15" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pelican Lake | A | 11,546 | 42.9/hr in electrofishing | 39% | 18" | 1.9 lb | 2022 |
| 2 | Fish Lake Flowage | A− | 3,259 | 21.9/hr in electrofishing | 21% | 20" | 1.1 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Wolf Lake | A− | 289 | 64.5/hr in electrofishing | 53% | 19" | 1.8 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Floodwood Lake | A− | 314 | 94/hr in electrofishing | 11% | 17" | 0.5 lb | 2008 |
| 5 | Schultz Lake | B+ | 210 | 113.5/hr in electrofishing | 9% | 17" | 0.5 lb | 2012 |
| 6 | Armstrong Lake | B+ | 382 | 94.7/hr in electrofishing | 6% | 17" | 0.6 lb | 2021 |
| 7 | Twin Lake | B+ | 224 | 79/hr in electrofishing | 16% | 17" | 0.8 lb | 2021 |
| 8 | Wild Rice Lake | B+ | 2,372 | 17.5/hr in electrofishing | 31% | 19" | 2.2 lb | 2024 |
| 9 | Dinham Lake | B+ | 202 | 67.4/hr in electrofishing | 25% | 18" | 1.2 lb | 2018 |
| 10 | Myrtle Lake | B+ | 876 | 44.3/hr in electrofishing | 0% | 12" | 0.9 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in St. Louis County: Walleye · Northern pike · Smallmouth bass · 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.