Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best smallmouth bass lakes in St. Louis County
122 surveyed smallmouth bass lakes sit in St. Louis County; 76 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.
Rainy Lake leads at grade A, with 33.3 smallmouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2025 survey and a 19-inch fish the biggest measured. Black Duck Lake is next at A, 233.4 smallmouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2023 survey, 5% of the smallmouth bass netted over 15 inches. Vermilion Lake rounds out the top three at A, a 18-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 15" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rainy Lake | A | 210,200 | 33.3/hr in electrofishing | 4% | 19" | 1.2 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Black Duck Lake | A | 1,250 | 233.4/hr in electrofishing | 5% | 19" | 1.7 lb | 2023 |
| 3 | Vermilion Lake | A | 39,272 | 94.2/hr in electrofishing | 8% | 18" | 1 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Ash Lake | A | 690 | 189.3/hr in electrofishing | 6% | 18" | 1.3 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Crane Lake | A | 2,921 | 26.5/hr in electrofishing | 16% | 19" | 1 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Kabetogama Lake | A− | 24,034 | 24.3/hr in electrofishing | 3% | 19" | 1.4 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Pelican Lake | A− | 11,546 | 19.5/hr in electrofishing | 34% | 17" | 1.6 lb | 2022 |
| 8 | Eagles Nest #3 Lake | A− | 1,028 | 35.2/hr in electrofishing | 47% | 19" | 1.7 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Low Lake | A− | 316 | 56.7/hr in electrofishing | 25% | 19" | 1.8 lb | 2024 |
| 10 | Elephant Lake | A− | 728 | 44.2/hr in electrofishing | 17% | 18" | 1.9 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in St. Louis County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill · Yellow perch
All of Minnesota: Best smallmouth 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.