Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best largemouth bass lakes in Washington County
34 surveyed largemouth bass lakes sit in Washington County; the 10 ranked here 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.
Big Marine Lake leads at grade A−, with 103.6 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2024 survey and a 18-inch fish the biggest measured. DeMontreville Lake is next at A−, 100.9 largemouth bass per hour of electrofishing in its 2019 survey, 35% of the largemouth bass netted over 15 inches. Forest Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 16-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 15" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Marine Lake | A− | 1,799 | 103.6/hr in electrofishing | 3% | 18" | 0.8 lb | 2024 |
| 2 | DeMontreville Lake | A− | 157 | 100.9/hr in electrofishing | 35% | 18" | 2.1 lb | 2019 |
| 3 | Forest Lake | A− | 2,271 | 62.2/hr in electrofishing | 5% | 16" | 0.9 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | White Bear Lake | A− | 2,428 | 26/hr in electrofishing | 17% | 18" | 1.3 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Jane Lake | B+ | 158 | 63.3/hr in electrofishing | 24% | 18" | 1.3 lb | 2019 |
| 6 | Bone Lake | B− | 221 | — | 17% | 17" | 1 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Battle Creek Lake | C+ | 106 | — | 0% | 12" | 1 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Square Lake | C+ | 203 | — | 0% | 12" | 0.6 lb | 2016 |
| 9 | Clear Lake | C | 429 | 17.1/hr in electrofishing | 0% | 14" | 1.4 lb | 2024 |
| 10 | Elmo Lake | C− | 257 | 7.4/hr in electrofishing | 0% | — | — | 2025 |
Also ranked in Washington County: Walleye · Northern pike · 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.