Little Bass

Little Bass Lake is a 114-acre lake with 3.67 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 16 feet located northwest of Hackensack, MN. A U.S. Forest Service (USFS) owned public access is located on the northwest shore. The DNR has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Little Bass Lake is in Lake Class 36; lakes in this class are generally small with a very high percentage of shallow water area. Little Bass Lake is located entirely within the Chippewa National Forest. The lake is primarily managed for Northern Pike and Black Crappie and secondarily for Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, and Yellow Perch. Black Crappie abundance was low and fell below the long-range management goal for the first time since 1989. Black Crappie lengths ranged from 5 to 15 inches with a mean length of 8 inches. Northern Pike are abundant, with catch rates nearing the maximum management goal in 2023. Sampled Northern Pike ranged in length from 19 to 32 inches with a mean length of 25 inches. Bluegill abundance was lower than previous surveys and below management goals. Bluegill size exceeded management goals and fish up to 9 inches were sampled. Largemouth Bass ranged in length from 8 to 19 inches with a mean length of 14 inches. Yellow Perch abundance fell to a historic low, below management goals. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Due to its small size, Little Bass Lake may be susceptible to over-harvest. Anglers must practice selective harvest if they want to improve or maintain the fishery. Currently, no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Little Bass Lake. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office.

Little Bass Lake is a 114-acre lake located near Akeley, MN that has 3.67 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 16 ft. There is an US Forest Service earthen boat ramp on the northwest shore. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has classified Minnesota lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical and other characteristics. Little Bass Lake is in Lake Class 36; lakes in this class are generally small with a very high percentage of shallow water area. Abundance of Northern Pike in Little Bass Lake compared favorably to other area lakes in this class. Average weight of Northern Pike found in the 2014 assessment was about 4 pounds, and fish up to 37 inches were sampled. The number of Black Crappie collected in DNR test nets was similar to the number commonly found in this lake class. Black Crappie sampled had an average length of almost 8 inches, and fish up to 9 inches were found. Largemouth Bass were sampled by DNR electrofishing gear and fish from 8 to 16 inches were found with the average being 12 inches. Bluegill numbers compare favorably to other lakes in this class. Bluegill averaged almost 7 inches, and fish up to 8 inches were found. Abundance of yellow perch was similar to other lakes in this class. Average size for this species was just below 7 inches, and fish up to 8 inches were present. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Currently no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Little Bass Lake. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office.

Little Bass is a relatively shallow 106-acre lake located in the Chippewa National Forest. The lake has no cabins,lake homes or resorts, so it can offer a near-wilderness setting for anglers. A steep earthen ramp in thenorthwest corner provides the lake's only access. Northern pike were common in the 1994 sampling, though fewer were sampled than in the 1989 survey. Numbers ofnorthern pike compared favorably with numbers caught in other lakes of this class. The average size sampled wasthe same as in the 1989 sampling. Northern pike averaged 3.5 lbs with individuals up to 34 inches also captured.By the time they reached age 4, the average northern pike was 24 inches long.Yellow perch in Little Bass are generally small; none sampled in 1994 exceeded 7.9 inches. The abundance of yellowperch was similar to that found in other lakes in this class.Bluegill were more abundant in Little Bass than in most other lakes of the same class even though the number ofbluegill sampled in DNR trap nets in 1994 was less than it was in 1989. The average weight of sampled bluegillin 1989 and 1994 was 0.2 lbs. The length distribution of this species contained fish acceptable to most anglers.Although bluegill longer than 8 inches were not sampled, about 20 percent were in the 7-inch category. The averagelength of bluegill when they reached age 5 was 5.4 inches. The growth rate of bluegill in Little Bass is similarto that found in other lakes of this type in the Walker area. Black crappie in Little Bass Lake were abundant but small. Sampled black crappie had an average weight of aboutone-quarter pound. The largest individuals sampled were about 9.6 inches.Largemouth bass sampled in Little Bass ranged from 9 to 15 inches. Average length of these fish at age 4 was 10.8inches, indicating slower growth than in some other local lakes of this class.On a small lake like Little Bass, the actions of a relatively small group of anglers can have a noticeable effecton the fishery. Anglers are encouraged to release some of their larger fish to help preserve quality angling forthe future.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Yellow Perch in Little 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 Little Bass. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Little Bass has a maximum depth of 16 feet and a mean depth of 8.4 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Little Bass is from 2023.

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