Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best smallmouth bass lakes in Stearns County
21 surveyed smallmouth bass lakes sit in Stearns County; 11 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.
Koronis (main lake) leads at grade B, a 20-inch fish the biggest measured. Horseshoe Lake is next at B−, 4 smallmouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2025 survey, 44% of the smallmouth bass netted over 15 inches. Rice Lake rounds out the top three at B−, a 18-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 15" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Koronis (main lake) | B | 2,968 | — | 44% | 20" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Horseshoe Lake | B− | 629 | 4/hr in electrofishing | 44% | 19" | 1.5 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Rice Lake | B− | 1,513 | — | 55% | 18" | 2 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Big Lake | B− | 458 | — | 100% | 17" | 2.4 lb | 2017 |
| 5 | Cedar Island Lake | C+ | 986 | 2.4/hr in electrofishing | 80% | 19" | — | 2025 |
| 6 | Bolfing Lake | C+ | 109 | — | 0% | 11" | 0.6 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Pleasant Lake | C+ | 218 | — | 0% | 2" | — | 2024 |
| 8 | Long Lake | C+ | 487 | — | 0% | 9" | 0.4 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Two Rivers Lake | C | 584 | 2.2/hr in electrofishing | 80% | 19" | — | 2024 |
| 10 | Zumwalde Lake | C− | 128 | 2.4/hr in electrofishing | 80% | 19" | — | 2024 |
Also ranked in Stearns 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.