Bass

Bass Lake is located approximately 6 miles south of Biwabik. There is a concrete plank boat ramp with a small parking lot located near the NE corner of the lake for public access. Parking is limited and the steep landing may be rutted after heavy rain. Bass is a highly developed lake with numerous homes and cabins surrounding the shoreline. Lake bottom is predominately sand/silt and aquatic vegetation is abundant on the shoreline. Bass lake is in Class 5, which is one of the most productive lake classes in northeast Minnesota. Ten species of fish were sampled in 2015. The total gillnet catch was lower than average (15.5lbs/net) but the trapnet catch was above average (19.3lbs/net). Northern pike dominated the gillnet catch and bluegill dominated the trap nets. Black crappie were sampled in numbers slightly greater than their historic average. Low numbers of other gamefish, including walleye and largemouth bass, were also sampled. Northern pike numbers were higher than past surveys on the lake, however the average length was below average at 19 inches. Only 11% of the catch was longer than 24 inches. One pike just under 40 inches was also sampled which was the largest caught in a survey to date. Bluegill numbers were above average for the lake class, however abundance was lower than in past surveys. The average bluegill sampled was nearly 7 inches long and the largest sampled just over 9 inches. Almost 13% of the population was greater than 8 inches. Anglers are encouraged to release large bluegill to maintain quality size structure. Black crappie abundance was well above the lake class average and greater than in recent surveys. The average crappie size was the highest on record at nearly 9 inches, with the largest crappie sampled at 13 inches. There was no dominant year classes, but crappie populations are often cyclical and angling quality can vary greatly year to year. Largemouth bass are traditionally underrepresented in standard survey nets. Eleven bass were captured in 2022 ranging from 8 to nearly 17 inches.

Bass Lake is located approximately 6 miles south of Biwabik. There is a concrete plank boat ramp with a small parking lot located near the NE corner of the lake for public access. Bass is a highly developed lake with numerous homes and cabins surrounding the shoreline. Sandy substrates with aquatic plants are commonly found near shore. Ten species of fish were sampled in 2015 by gill netting, trap netting and night electrofishing. Northern pike, largemouth bass, bluegill and black crappie were most common. Yellow bullhead were common in the trap net catch. Although Bass was stocked with walleye fingerlings up until 2010, only one walleye was sampled in 2015. Northern pike numbers were average compared to other similar area lakes and similar to past surveys on this lake. Northern pike were generally small on the lake, averaging about 20 inches long. This is smaller than the long term average of 23.2 inches. Anglers are encouraged to keep the smaller average size pike and release the larger ones, which could help improve the overall size range of pike. Largemouth bass were common in the electrofishing sample. This catch rate was more than three times the goal of 15.0/hr in the management plan for Bass Lake. The average largemouth sampled was 12.2 inches and the largest was 17.5 inches long. Sixty percent of the largemouth sampled by electrofishing were 12 inches or larger. Bluegill numbers were slightly above average compared to similar lakes, however abundance was much lower than in past surveys. Bluegill on Bass lake are very slow growing. The average bluegill sampled was about 7 inches long and 9 years old. The largest bluegill sampled was 8.5 inches long. Black crappie abundance was above average compared to other similar area lakes but slightly less than in past surveys. Crappie were generally on the small size mostly ranging from 4 to 9 inches. Crappie fishing can vary widely from year to year as is typical with a fish species that has boom and bust cycles. There is often only one or two year classes in the fishery at a time, so anglers typically see that the fish are mostly only one or two general sizes.

Bass Lake is located approximately 6 miles S of Biwabik, MN. It has a surface area of 149 acres and a maximum depth of 36 ft. Bass Lake was thermally stratified on 06/14/2010, the first day of sampling, with a surface temperature of 62.6 F and a bottom temperature of 50.5 F. Water clarity is good. There is a public access located near the NE corner of the lake off Farber Rd. The parking area has limited space for vehicles and trailers. Bluegill numbers in 2010 (109.7/trap net) were the highest ever recorded for this lake. Bluegill sizes averaged 5.1" and the growth rate was slower than average compared to lakes in this class. Approximately four percent of the bluegill were over 7". The largest bluegill was 8.7". Northern pike numbers in 2010 (7.5/gill net) were the highest ever recorded for this lake. Pike sizes averaged 21.0" and the growth rate was similar to other lakes in this class. The largest pike was 35.2". Largemouth bass numbers in 2010 (1.3/trap net) were similar to the long term average of 1.1/trap net for this lake. The largest largemouth was 14.6" and the growth rate was slower than average compared to lakes in this class. Walleye numbers in 2010 (0.17/gill net) were lower than the long term average of 1.0/gill net for this lake. Despite stocking fingerlings every other year, walleye numbers have been decreasing in recent assessments. The largest walleye was 26.8". Other fish species sampled in 2010 included black crappie, pumpkinseed, hybrid sunfish, yellow perch and rock bass. Brown bullhead numbers in 2010 (2.2/gill net) were higher than the long term average of 0.6/gill net for this lake. White sucker are present and several minnow species were also sampled.

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

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Bass. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Bass has a maximum depth of 35 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Bass is from 2022.

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.