Smallmouth bass across Minnesota
Where smallmouth bass live in Minnesota, with limits.
- Catch-and-release onlimit
- 8 lb 0 ozrecord
Pick for smallmouth bassPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo of the species, not of a Minnesota water: Engbretson Eric, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
smallmouth bass in the state
In DNR terms, Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) is part of the sunfish family. Limit (southern and north-central zones (statewide except northeast zone)): Catch-and-release only; season March 1 – May 22, 2026.
A 8 lb 0 oz fish from West Battle Lake in an unlisted year holds the record. 553 lakes carry it on their DNR survey list, 609 with pages on this site. The highest gill net catch rate on a lake with a page here is 14.33 per net at Dunnigan Lake.
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“Their nickname – "smallies" – belies the fact that smallmouth bass are some of the strongest freshwater fish by weight. Many anglers who hook a 2-pounder will swear it's twice that big until the fish is in the net.”
“More than 2,000 Minnesota lakes support self-sustaining largemouth bass populations. More than 500 support smallmouth bass. And don't forget rivers like the Mississippi, St. Croix, Red Lake, Zumbro and Cloquet.”
“Anglers can fish for smallmouth and largemouth bass starting each year on same day as the walleye and northern pike fishing opener. On that day, an early bass harvest season opens north and east of U.S. Highway 53 from Duluth to International Falls (red area), and in the rest of the state (green area) there is a catch-and-release bass season that runs from the regular harvest season until late May.”
- Smallmouth bass: back of mouth goes only to middle of eye.identification
- Highway 53 from Duluth to International Falls (red area), and in the rest of the state (green area) there is a catch-and-release bass season that runs from the regular harvest season until late May.identification
- Rainy Lake – Fish smallmouth in the darker water in the south arm early and the clearer water in the north arm late.habitat
- Lake Vermilion – Smallmouth aren't a surprise in this lake on the edge of the BWCAW, where smallmouth were first introduced in the late 1800s.habitat
- smalliesalso called
Quoted from the DNR fish page and the 2026 regulations identification guide, checked October 2026.
Minnesota limits for smallmouth bass
| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Southern and North-central zones (statewide except Northeast Zone) | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 22, 2026 |
| Southern and North-central zones (statewide except Northeast Zone) | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass | May 23 – Sept. 13, 2026 |
| Southern and North-central zones (statewide except Northeast Zone) | Catch-and-release only | Sept. 14, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northeast Zone (north and east of U.S. Hwy 53 from Duluth to International Falls; Pelican and Ash lakes in St. | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 8, 2026 |
| Northeast Zone (north and east of U.S. Hwy 53 from Duluth to International Falls; Pelican and Ash lakes in St. | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations. All Minnesota limits.
Record smallmouth bass from Minnesota
| Category | Weight | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| non certified weight | 8 lb 0 oz | West Battle Lake | Otter Tail | |
| catch and release | 22.75 in | Basswood Lake | Lake | 2024 |
Minnesota DNR state records; angler names left out.
Lakes where DNR gill nets caught the most smallmouth bass
| Lake | Per gill net | Normal range | Avg lb | Survey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunnigan Lake | 14.33 | 0.5-5.8 | 0.52 | 2021 |
| Beth Lake | 13.67 | 1.0-4.1 | 0.48 | 2012 |
| Bear Lake near Beaver Bay, Lake County | 10.67 | 0.4-1.3 | 0.62 | 2008 |
| Ashigan Lake | 10.33 | 0.5-2.1 | 0.35 | 1974 |
| South Temperance Lake | 10 | 0.2-0.7 | 0.94 | 1986 |
| Grace Lake, Cook County | 9.75 | 0.2-0.7 | 0.48 | 2012 |
| Trout Lake near Coleraine, Itasca County | 8.93 | 0.2-0.9 | 2.06 | 2018 |
| Hunter Lake | 8.67 | 0.2-1.6 | 1.82 | 1987 |
| Dumbbell Lake | 8.12 | 0.5-2.1 | 0.36 | 2023 |
| Coxey Pond | 7.83 | 0.5-5.8 | 0.87 | 1978 |
| Otter Lake, St. Louis County | 7.67 | 0.5-5.8 | 1.7 | 1983 |
| East Pike Lake | 7.25 | 0.3-1.4 | 1.19 | 2002 |
DNR LakeFinder latest survey per lake; standard and special gill nets.
Waters holding smallmouth bass
Lakes for smallmouth bass
- Lake of the Woods725,583 acres
- Rainy Lake, St. Louis County210,200 acres
- Mille Lacs Lake128,250 acres
- Leech Lake103,444 acres
- Vermilion Lake39,272 acres
- Lac la Croix29,597 acres
- Basswood Lake25,953 acres
- Namakan Lake24,066 acres
- Kabetogama Lake24,034 acres
- Saganaga Lake18,767 acres
- Lake Minnetonka14,206 acres
- Otter Tail Lake14,079 acres
- Lake Pepin12,299 acres
- Pelican Lake, St. Louis County11,546 acres
- Traverse Lake10,849 acres
- Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County10,360 acres
- St. Louis River Estuary10,255 acres
- Gull Lake, Cass County10,010 acres
- Sand Point Lake8,527 acres
- St. Croix River8,393 acres
- Pelican Lake, Crow Wing County8,367 acres
- Lake Minnewaska8,050 acres
- Island Lake Reservoir8,001 acres
- Whitefish Lake near Manhattan Beach, Crow Wing County7,714 acres
Creeks for smallmouth bass
- Mississippi RiverAitkin
- St. Louis RiverSt. Louis
- Vermilion RiverSt. Louis
- Turtle RiverBeltrami
DNR LakeFinder survey lists; largest lakes first.
More fish near smallmouth bass on the list
- Largemouth basssunfish family
- Rock basssunfish family
- Black crappiesunfish family
- White crappiesunfish family
- Bluegillsunfish family
- Pumpkinseedsunfish family
- Green sunfishsunfish family
- Hybrid sunfishsunfish family
- Warmouthsunfish family
Lakes and rivers near Smallmouth bass in photos
Photo: Jon Platek, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: chief_huddleston, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jonathunder, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Lorne Sunley, CC BY 3.0
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smallmouth bass questions with short answers
What is the daily Minnesota limit for smallmouth bass?
Catch-and-release only (Southern and North-central zones (statewide except Northeast Zone)), season March 1 – May 22, 2026.
How heavy is the record smallmouth bass?
8 lb 0 oz from West Battle Lake (year unlisted).
Which lakes are best for smallmouth bass?
Dunnigan Lake leads the DNR gill net catch at 14.33 per net; 613 waters on this site list it.
Are smallmouth bass stocked in Minnesota?
No DNR stocking row covers it.
How can I tell a smallmouth bass when I land one?
Smallmouth bass: back of mouth goes only to middle of eye.
When is smallmouth bass season in Minnesota?
March 1 – May 22, 2026
What does a license for smallmouth bass cost?
Minnesota residents 16 to 89 need an angling license ($25 for the year); nonresidents 16 and older pay $51.
Do outfitters target smallmouth bass?
No listing names it.
Go fishing for smallmouth bass
Open a lake above for accesses and limits.