Bass

Bass Lake is a small lake located 2 miles west of the town of Aitkin in west central Aitkin County. Most of the shoreline is marsh or bog. Access to the lake is limited with most of the public angling taking place from shore along the highway right-of-way.Bass Lake does have an abundant northern pike population, and despite the small size of the lake there are some nice sized fish in that population. The average northern pike sampled was over 20 inches long with several fish over 25 inches being caught. The bluegill and pumpkinseed sunfish, while not overly abundant are of large size. Over one-half of the bluegill and almost two-thirds of the pumpkinseed sunfish sampled were greater than 7 inch long, with fish from both species sampled that were over 9 inches in length. Black crappie, while within the normal range of abundance for this lake type tended to be small in size. The average black crappie sample was 7 to 8 inches long with the largest fish caught just over 9 inches long.Largemouth bass appear to be doing very well in Bass Lake. Catch rates for the different types of sampling gear were all within their normal ranges for this lake type, with several quality size fish caught. The mean length of largemouth bass caught ranged from 11 inches from the electro-fishing sample to almost 13 inches long in the trap net sample. Three of the 28 total largemouth bass caught were over 16 inches long, one in each gear type.

The gill net indices for black bullhead and walleye were below their respective first state quartiles for lake class 21. The trap net index for pumpkinseed was above its third state quartile for lake class 21. Northern pike (19 of 19 aged) ranged from three to eight plus years of age with a strong year class indicated for 1987. Growth rates were slower than normal for the third through the seventh annual increments. Bluegill (29 of 39 aged) ranged from four to eight plus years of age with most of the fish sampled greater than seven years of age. Growth rates for the second and third annual increments were slower than normal. Growth rates for the sixth, seventh and eighth annual increments were faster than normal.

The gillnet catch index for yellow perch is lower than the first regional quartile. The trap net indices for black bullhead and brown bullhead are lower than their respective first regional quartiles. The trap net catch index for largemouth bass is higher than the third regional quartile. Northern pike ranged from two to six years of age with five of the fish sampled from the 1983 year class. Growth rates for all ages are normal.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Hybrid Sunfish, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Pumpkinseed in Bass. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Bass. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Bass has a maximum depth of 38 feet and a mean depth of 11 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Bass is from 2002. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

No invasive species are on record for Bass in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.