Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best largemouth bass lakes in Stearns County
68 surveyed largemouth bass lakes sit in Stearns County; 36 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.
School Section Lake leads at grade A−, with 124 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2018 survey and a 18-inch fish the biggest measured. Carnelian Lake is next at A−, 127.1 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2024 survey, 18% of the largemouth bass netted over 15 inches. Big 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 | School Section Lake | A− | 211 | 124/hr in electrofishing | 30% | 18" | 1.2 lb | 2018 |
| 2 | Carnelian Lake | A− | 180 | 127.1/hr in electrofishing | 18% | 18" | 0.7 lb | 2024 |
| 3 | Big Lake | A− | 458 | 82.2/hr in electrofishing | 5% | 19" | 0.7 lb | 2017 |
| 4 | Grand Lake | B+ | 651 | 48/hr in electrofishing | 18% | 18" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Pleasant Lake | B+ | 218 | 55.2/hr in electrofishing | 29% | 19" | 1.3 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Marie Lake | B+ | 146 | 64.3/hr in electrofishing | 32% | 19" | 0.7 lb | 2019 |
| 7 | Big Spunk Lake | B+ | 415 | 38.4/hr in electrofishing | 13% | 21" | 1.2 lb | 2023 |
| 8 | Clear Lake | B+ | 118 | 62.9/hr in electrofishing | 25% | 21" | 1.4 lb | 2024 |
| 9 | Pine Lake | B+ | 108 | 59.9/hr in electrofishing | 33% | 20" | 0.3 lb | 2018 |
| 10 | Knaus Lake | B | 216 | 58.3/hr in electrofishing | 14% | 18" | — | 2024 |
Also ranked in Stearns 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.