Good bass lakes in Minnesota

[Curlyfishin]

I have been trying to find some good bass lakes in Minnesota but every lake seems to have northern pike in them and i know that those pike will keep the population low and not many bass with size. Can anyone from Minnesota or has fished in Minnesota hell me out

[Dirtyeggroll]

12 minutes ago, Curlyfishin said:

i know that those pike will keep the population low and not many bass with size.

Wherever you are getting this information is incorrect. Bass and pike can live together fine together. TONS of great smallmouth opportunities in Minnesota. 

 

Mille Lacs for example.

 

Also I am sure lots of good largemouth opportunities too

[gim]

They can and do habitate in similar environments. We do have a ton of pike though. Too many actually which is why the DNR has imposed a daily bag limit of 10 in a large portion of the state. They’re slimy, aggressive, and they’ll ruin your tackle if not bite you off all together.

 

There is some great bass fishing to be had here in the land of 10,000 lakes, however. Check out the Minnesota regional forum if you want proof.

[papajoe222]

If a lake has a decent population of big pike, it's a good bet there is also a good population of bass. Pike prefer forage that, like themselves, have difficulty making quick turns because, unlike bass, they capture their prey using their mouth. Perch, young walleye, etc.  As for recommendations on particular lakes, you can do a search of the fishing locations forum/central bass fishing and also ask there.

[MIbassyaker]

Bass and Pike coexist well in most northern waters, and in healthily-balanced waters, each population helps keep the other in check: bass eat smaller pike, just as pike eat smaller bass.  A healthy pike population is usually good for average bass size.

 

[BassThumb]

What's your location?

 

Trying utilizing the MN DNR Lakefinder site or app to find lakes with good bass populations near you. It's the best thing invented since Budweiser/Clamato. Search your nearby counties and look at the fisheries report surveys. You'll find little lakes where half the bass electroshocked are 15" and above.

 

Fish those honey-holes, and keep them on the DL. ?

 

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/index.html

[Black Hawk Basser]

Not in Minnesota, but very close to the border, are the Iowa Great Lakes.  They offer some excellent largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing.  There are also pike, but I don't think they contain the population density of pike that a lot of MN lakes would.

[kjfishman]

Spent a week at Ten Mile Lake a few years ago.  Bass fishing was good. You got 10000 lakes to choose from much more than we do in Missouri.

 

[umckibben]

The pike comment aside, the water quality in MN is second to none, I would think you'd be hard pressed tho find a lake in MN that doesn't have a quality bass population....

[Jay Tegeder]

Late to the party on this thread. If the lake has a lot of small pike the bass fishing can be very good. Also, there are lakes in the Metro Area that are catch and release only for bass. Those lakes tend to have bigger  bass.

[MickD]

On 6/26/2019 at 10:34 PM, papajoe222 said:

unlike bass, they capture their prey using their mouth.

Gotta ask-what do bass use to capture their prey?  I don't mean to be a smart aleck, but I must be missing something here.  thanks