Largemouth Bass Fishing in Minnesota
Found throughout Minnesota’s southern and central lakes. Largemouth bass fishing has grown dramatically as warming waters expand their range northward.
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
Found throughout Minnesota's southern and central lakes. Largemouth bass fishing has grown dramatically as warming waters expand their range northward.
Size Limit
No minimum
Daily Bag
6 (combined with smallmouth)
Season
Continuous catch-and-release, harvest May-February
State Record
8 lb 15 oz
Auburn Lake (2021)
Best Months to Fish
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
What to Use
Live Bait & Natural
NightcrawlersLeechesCrayfish
Lures & Artificials
Plastic wormsSpinnerbaitsTopwater frogsJigsCrankbaits
Minnesota Lakes with Largemouth Bass
1951 lakes in our directory have largemouth bass — sorted by size.
Rainy
St. Louis County
210,200.2 acres
Mille Lacs
Mille Lacs County
128,250.02 acres
Leech
Cass County
103,443.8 acres
Winnibigoshish
Cass County
56,471.4 acres
Vermilion
St. Louis County
39,272.25 acres
Basswood
Lake County
25,952.96 acres
Kabetogama
St. Louis County
24,034 acres
Cass
Beltrami County
15,958.25 acres
Minnetonka
Hennepin County
14,205.54 acres
Otter Tail
Otter Tail County
14,078.61 acres
Big Stone
Big Stone County
11,983.83 acres
Pelican
St. Louis County
11,546.3 acres
Regulation Notes
Catch-and-release only during spring spawning season on most waters.
More Minnesota Fish Species
Plan Your Largemouth Bass Trip
Find lakes, guides, and bait shops for your next largemouth bass fishing trip in Minnesota.
Explore Lakes Find a Guide Bait & TackleRegulations shown are statewide defaults. Some waters have special regulations — always check the current Minnesota DNR regulations before fishing. A Minnesota fishing license is required for ages 16+.