Best Metro Bass Lake?

[kiefer06]

I live in the northen suburbs and I was wondering what you guys thought the best bass lake in the area is. Thanks. Kiefer06

[Slyster]

Good question! (And good luck...) I'd say Forest Lake? I've no clue really.. I've caught bass on just about all north and northeast lakes. White Bear lake "can" be good. Bald Eagle? I've caught a good number there. Biggest I've caught were on Forest.. from what I've read (never fished it.. too far away) Minnetonka must be the best METRO lake.. but of course that's not north.

[Pherris]

If you like to catch small mouth try green lake. There was just an article in Outdoor news about how it has become an outstanding smallmouth producer. Good Luck!!

[EBass]

My .02 Tonka!

[gspman]

Prior Lake would have to be right up there along with Minnetonka.

[Ole the Guide]

Lake X is my favorite!! Heh-heh!

Ole

[Tom Wilson]

Ole,

I also fish Lake X quite a bit and I love it!!!!

[LEECH21]

Lake Z is the best metro lake! That's where I caught the 22 inch pig in my avatar

[Lunker]

Of course Tonka is notorious(but not my fav). Waconia's got some beefy fish as well. But don't overlook the little lakes under 100 or 200 acres that are all over the metro. They are my personal favorite. One good way to find some bass hotspots(I did) is to spread a map out, and take every lake name in the area you want, then hit the DNR site to check on reports for every lake you chose. Make sure you look to see if they did electroshocking, cause this is the best way to count bass. If they did and the numbers were bad, might want to skip it. If they didn't shock and only gillnetted or trapped, then they likely don't have a good estimate on the bass population. I have found some great little honey holes researching like this.

[Tom Wilson]

I also fish Lake Z. (you never know--our Lake Z's could be the same,) but Frankly, the Bass just aren't safe anywhere.

[LEECH21]

Tom, scary thing is, I do believe that our Lake Z is the same!

[Tom Wilson]

You know, if it is--my biggest Minnesota Bass yet came from there. 8lbs, 3oz at 23 & 1/4 inches. Two years ago on a red shad culprit 6 inch worm on an inside turn of an outside weedline in 11 ft of water. No camera, just dad and the guy in the little red lund that saw it also. Oh Well, I'll get her again. I caught her post spawn the 2nd weekend of the season--man what I wouldn't have give for her to have still been full of eggs. She just might have done it.

[Tom Wilson]

keifer,

To answer your original question, when I first moved here to Minnesota 15 years ago I lived in Elk River. At that time, I always drove the distance to lakes like Sugar, Clearwater, Ida, Birch, and Maple in Wright county. I really didn't care for too many of the lakes that were closer to the area. To do any better I think you might have to go on over to the other side of town by Forest, White Bear, etc. We used to fish Crooked Lake in anoka also, boy was that lake full of piggies, but I believe there are some special regs on that one now.

Good Luck in finding them,

[Stainless]

crooked lake is probably my favorite small Big Bass lake in the metro,alot of big ones in there. Seams to be getting harder and harder to find them lately though. For the last 10-15 years it has been a catch and release on largemouth over 14 0r 16 inches. I was just out there on friday and hooked into what I will guess was a 6-7 pound channel cat. I knew they stocked them in crooked but I had never seen one before, what a fun fight that thing was.

[Stainless]

crooked lake is probably my favorite small Big Bass lake in the metro,alot of big ones in there. Seams to be getting harder and harder to find them lately though. For the last 10-15 years it has been a catch and release on largemouth over 14 0r 16 inches. I was just out there on friday and hooked into what I will guess was a 6 pound channel cat. I knew they stocked them in crooked but I had never seen one before, what a fun fight that thing was.

[PERCHJR]

Lake "X"??? Now where could that be Ole???

GOOD LUCK AND GOOD FISHING!!!