3 best LM bass lakes in the state

[mozy]

What would you consider the 3 best largemouth lakes in the state for catching numbers as well as a pretty good shot at a 6+ lber? I want to try fishing some great bass lakes for a change. Right now, I mostly make trips to Minnewaska or Green Lake by Spicer, but neither of these have real large bass.

[engfish]

Minnetonka

[JBMasterAngler]

Pretty much any lake in the Brainerd area.

[auggie78]

I agree with engfish, its hard to beat minnetonka in both numbers and the chance to catch big fish. However, you do have to get out early to avoid all the recreation traffic on the lake.

[crappiegetter]

A good bass lake that my dad and I fish is Gull Lake, there are a lot of good weed lines to fish.

[Jig Master]

The small number of lakes I know of where you've got a great shot at a fish over 6 (or 7 for that matter) are less than 1000 acres so I can't list on here. If you are trying to target trophy's on Tonka, I have always done better on the west side in the dirtier water. I will admit though, that shallow is how I like to fish.

[Superduty]

Mozy, I think the two lakes you named are pretty darn good lakes!

[BassNut33]

Tonka for sure as far as number and the chance to catch a giant. I am also a big fan of some of the smaller lakes in the Metro, often times they are over looked, but they can produce great numbers and a few giants. They are also nice because generally they are easy to fish and you can fish them thoroughly in a few hours. I can think of a handful off the top of my head that are excellent fisheries.

[JBMasterAngler]

Even though I named the Brainerd area, the 3 bodies of water (2 small lakes and a small river) I have caught my biggest largemouths out of are nowhere near Brainerd

[walleye365]

leech pokegama gull river

[Raider4ever]

Harriet, Calhoun, and Lake O' the Isles. AND STAY THERE!!

Sincerely,

North

[Judge Smails]

Prior, White Bear, Waconia, and Minnetonka.

Sincerely,

Minneapolis

[guideman]

There are more great LM lakes in Minnesota than most people think.

If you fish the metro you will wear yourself out trying to fish all the small lakes with good numbers of decent fish. If you like to go "Up north" you'll find a lot of lakes that get very little bass fishing pressure as most are targeted for Walleyes.

Leech, Gull, Vermilion, Round, Mississippi river, Whitefish chain, Herbert, LOTW, and so on. All you need to do is check out the DNR reports on most lakes and they will tell you which ones are worth the trip.

"Ace"

[Jig Master]

3 best largemouth lakes in the state for catching numbers as well as a pretty good shot at a 6+ lber?

and people have listed Prior, Gull, and White Fish Chain? White Bear??!!! Hahaha, I had to check if it was April first. Some of the responses on here sure make me laugh. The guy is looking for a fish 6lbs. or better. Those are the last lakes he'd ever want to go to. And that's not my two cents, that's fact. Next thing you know someone will chime in with Le Homme Dieu, another real hog factory....

[BassKnuckles]

Sure Minnetonka may have great LM's but who wants to deal with all the people on that lake? i would like to find a comfortable dock somewhere on there that's not busy but......

[Deitz Dittrich]

and people have listed Prior, Gull, and White Fish Chain? White Bear??!!! Hahaha, I had to check if it was April first. Some of the responses on here sure make me laugh. The guy is looking for a fish 6lbs. or better. Those are the last lakes he'd ever want to go to. And that's not my two cents, that's fact. Next thing you know someone will chime in with Le Homme Dieu, another real hog factory....

Actually, I would leave Prior on there. Some nice fish in there.

Truth of the fact is, your better off hitting smaller lakes that dont get the pressure. Not many lakes that I would list as a numbers lake and a good chance at a 6 lb fish. Usually its one or the other.

[Cecil]

When Prior was at its prime, there was NO better lake in the state, not even close. Sounds like its coming around again.

I'm a fan of Vermillion and Leech. But if you can find a smaller hidden gem like Deitz said, you will be better off.

[mozy]

It's good to see that the metro area offers so many options. I'm looking to move to the Waconia area soon, so it will be nice having so many options available within an hours drive.

[BassNut33]

I love fishing small lakes, there may days I only catch a handful of fish, 2 of them are in the 5 - 6 lb range. On top of that I can get a really good feel for the lake and the structure in it, in a short amount of time.

[Fever]

I'll admit, I like a few of the lakes listed but I'll add a couple counties. There are a few medium to smaller lakes in Stearns county that have great numbers, little pressure for Bass, and a shot at 5 to upper 5. Not sure about six as I've only broke that barrier once and it was in the metro on a large pressured lake. Aside from stearns co. I'd take a look at a few Wright county Lakes. I know there are a lot of them but just look... that's what makes it fun. Since I got into Bass fishing over the course of the past 5 ish years I've had a blast looking for my own little gems. I'm happy to say that I have a few lakes that see very little pressure and have some surprisingly sweet fish. Personally, I can't stand high pressured lakes like a few that have been mentioned, even if they have good fish. Too many people out there that are rude and discourtious both on the lake and the access, and I'm not just talkin waverunners. Good luck!

[Musky hunter 82]

There is a place around the Grand Rapids area that I would put up against any other, in the state. If hit during the right time, to catch not only numbers but big fish as well. Was out there one day and caught a ton of bass with 3 going over 20"(the biggest was 22 1/2"). Every time I went out there we would catch a lot of fish and usially 1 or 2 over 5 pounds.

[Raider4ever]

There is a place around the Grand Rapids area that I would put up against any other, in the state. If hit during the right time, to catch not only numbers but big fish as well. Was out there one day and caught a ton of bass with 3 going over 20"(the biggest was 22 1/2"). Every time I went out there we would catch a lot of fish and usially 1 or 2 over 5 pounds.

SSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Keep it down would ya!!! JK. I'm fairly certain we have both fished it. GR area is a relatively untapped bass region. Both LMB and SMB.

[JBMasterAngler]

Thinking about heading to grand rapids for memorial weekend. On paper it looks like there are some great bass lakes up there!

[Raider4ever]

Thinking about heading to grand rapids for memorial weekend. On paper it looks like there are some great bass lakes up there!

Personally, if it was just to go fishing, I would go to Mille Lacs, Brainerd, Rush City, or southern MN. Yes there will be a ton of boats, but the vast majority will be walleye fishing. The water will be warmer in these areas compared to GR and the bass will be further along. It's often still really cold water up, especially if you are choosing one of the deeper, clearer lakes up there.

Just my $0.02 (USD).

[Fishwrench]

I wouldn't hesitate to look at some of the mud-holes in Carver County. The lakes there are small, and most are catch-n-release on bass. That helps to generate some pigs.