MN · ranked by public data
23 Cook County lakes have exact-water DNR survey evidence for smallmouth bass; 23 lakes with status, survey, or report evidence met our criteria, out of 756 documented lakes in the county. Updated July 2026.
Ranked within spring spawning mn class 3 standard night bass electrofishing catch per effort (fish per hour) — ranks restart at 1
Cook County, MN
100.0 within-system score · 3,533.4 lake-scale opportunity index · 7.45 fish/hour · 1997 DNR survey
Cook County, MN
10.0 within-system score · 1,772.8 lake-scale opportunity index · 5.37 fish/hour · 1997 DNR survey
Documented species evidence — unranked and alphabetical
Cook County, MN
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system
Cook County, MN
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system
Cook County, MN
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system
Cook County, MN
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system
Cook County, MN
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system
Cook County, MN
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system
Cook County, MN
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system
Cook County, MN
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system
| Rank | Lake | County | Acres | System score | Primary score signal | Survey measurement | Metric year | Fishing report | DNR status | Smallmouth Bass stocking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Clearwater Lake | Cook | 1,344 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| — | Crescent Lake | Cook | 755 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| — | Devil Track Lake | Cook | 1,876 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| — | Devilfish Lake | Cook | 405 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| — | East Bearskin Lake | Cook | 593 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| — | Greenwood Lake | Cook | 2,043 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| — | Gull Lake | Cook | 168 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| — | Gunflint Lake | Cook | 4,009 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| — | Homer Lake | Cook | 434 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| — | Iron Lake | Cook | 122 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| — | Larch Lake | Cook | 132 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| — | Leo Lake | Cook | 102 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| — | Lichen Lake | Cook | 253 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
Methodology
County ranks use the same statewide exact-family contract; systems with at least two eligible county peers restart at #1. The score is 55% survey rate × acreage, 35% survey rate, and 10% recency. Catch-per-effort × acreage is only an opportunity index, never a literal fish count. Documented acreage plus verified public or shore access are eligibility gates. Unsupported methods stay documented but unranked. See the complete definitions on the statewide smallmouth bass ranking.
FAQ
2 lakes receive at least one peer-backed, exact-lake numeric rank. Catch-per-effort systems separate species, phase, gear, unit, and sampled population; standardized adult-density estimates form their own system, so systems with at least two eligible county peers can each have a #1 in Cook County.
23 Cook County lakes have exact-water DNR survey evidence. Numeric rank still requires an exact comparable family plus the acreage and access gates.
Source data: Minnesota DNR LakeFinder fisheries surveys, lake classes, morphology, and public-access records. Rankings are LakeList's computed opinion from public agency data, not a DNR endorsement. Conditions and regulations change — verify access and rules before you go.