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Wisconsin›Best lakes›Largemouth Bass›Polk County

WI · ranked by public data

Best Largemouth Bass Lakes by DNR Survey System and Lake-Scale Opportunity in Polk County, Wisconsin

54 Polk County lakes have a DNR largemouth bass status record; 47 lakes with status, survey, or report evidence met our criteria (7 excluded for no verified public access), out of 250 documented lakes in the county. Updated July 2026.

  1. Ranked within late spring electrofishing catch per effort (fish/mile) — ranks restart at 1

    155.0system score
    229 acres

    Polk County, WI

    Magnor Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.32, -92.21229 acres | 26 ft max1 public access pointLargemouth Bass, Northern Pike

    55.0 within-system score · 10,625.6 lake-scale opportunity index · 46.4 fish/mile · 2019 DNR survey

    How this within-system rank was determined
    • Within-system score: 55.0/100
    • Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 10,625.6 (46.4 fish/mile × 229 acres; not a fish count)
    • Survey rate (30%): 46.4 fish/mile
    • Survey recency (10%): 2019
    • Species fishing report (5%): not found
    • Survey method: 2019 late-spring electrofishing
    • DNR status (unscored): Common (Largemouth Bass)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Largemouth Bass)
  2. 240.0system score
    82 acres

    Polk County, WI

    Ward Lake

    enhancedDepth mapDNR impairmentWater data
    45.61, -92.3282 acres | 43 ft max1 public access pointLargemouth Bass, Northern Pike

    40.0 within-system score · 8,060.6 lake-scale opportunity index · 98.3 fish/mile · 2021 DNR survey

    How this within-system rank was determined
    • Within-system score: 40.0/100
    • Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 8,060.6 (98.3 fish/mile × 82 acres; not a fish count)
    • Survey rate (30%): 98.3 fish/mile
    • Survey recency (10%): 2021
    • Species fishing report (5%): not found
    • Survey method: 2021 SE2 electrofishing
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Largemouth Bass)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Largemouth Bass)
    • DNR impairment (unscored context)
  3. Comparable adult population density — one lake recorded, no peer rank

    –
    82 acres

    Polk County, WI

    Ward Lake

    enhancedDepth mapDNR impairmentWater data
    45.61, -92.3282 acres | 43 ft max1 public access pointLargemouth Bass, Northern Pike

    adult population density · one comparable lake, so no peer rank

    Why this lake is listed
    • No numeric rank: this survey system has no eligible same-system peer
    • Survey rate: 37.9 fish/acre
    • Survey recency: 2021
    • Survey method: 2021 mark-recapture estimate
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Largemouth Bass)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Largemouth Bass)
    • DNR impairment (unscored context)
  4. Comparable spring electrofishing catch per effort (fish/mile) — one lake recorded, no peer rank

    –
    604 acres

    Polk County, WI

    Apple River Flowage

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.37, -92.36604 acres | 18 ft max3 public access pointsLargemouth Bass, Panfish

    spring electrofishing catch per effort (fish/mile) · one comparable lake, so no peer rank

    Why this lake is listed
    • No numeric rank: this survey system has no eligible same-system peer
    • Survey rate: 14 fish/mile
    • Survey recency: 2024
    • Survey method: Spring electrofishing
    • DNR status (unscored): Common (Largemouth Bass)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Largemouth bass)
  5. Documented species evidence — unranked and alphabetical

    –
    94 acres

    Polk County, WI

    Antler Lake

    enhancedDepth mapLargemouth Bass stockedWater data
    45.54, -92.4294 acres | 22 ft max1 public access pointLargemouth Bass, Northern Pike

    Documented DNR evidence · no comparable largemouth bass numeric survey system

    Why this lake is listed
    • DNR status (unscored): Common (Largemouth Bass)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: no survey on record
    • Largemouth Bass stocking history (unscored context)
  6. –
    1,901 acres

    Polk County, WI

    Balsam Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.47, -92.431,901 acres | 37 ft max4 public access pointsLargemouth Bass, Northern Pike

    Documented DNR evidence · no comparable largemouth bass numeric survey system

    Why this lake is listed
    • DNR status (unscored): Abundant (Largemouth Bass)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: no survey on record
  7. –
    111 acres

    Polk County, WI

    Bass Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.57, -92.28111 acres | 19 ft max1 public access pointLargemouth Bass, Northern Pike

    Documented DNR evidence · no comparable largemouth bass numeric survey system

    Why this lake is listed
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Largemouth Bass)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: no survey on record
  8. –
    247 acres

    Polk County, WI

    Bear Trap Lake

    enhancedDepth mapDNR impairmentWater data
    45.31, -92.41247 acres | 25 ft max1 public access pointLargemouth Bass, Panfish

    Documented DNR evidence · no comparable largemouth bass numeric survey system

    Why this lake is listed
    • DNR status (unscored): Common (Largemouth Bass)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: no survey on record
    • DNR impairment (unscored context)
  9. –
    208 acres

    Polk County, WI

    Big Blake Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.50, -92.33208 acres | 14 ft max2 public access pointsLargemouth Bass, Panfish

    Documented DNR evidence · no comparable largemouth bass numeric survey system

    Why this lake is listed
    • DNR status (unscored): Common (Largemouth Bass)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: no survey on record
  10. –
    384 acres

    Polk County, WI

    Big Butternut Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.57, -92.46384 acres | 19 ft max1 public access pointLargemouth Bass, Northern Pike

    Documented DNR evidence · no comparable largemouth bass numeric survey system

    Why this lake is listed
    • DNR status (unscored): Common (Largemouth Bass)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Largemouth Bass)
RankLakeCountyAcresSystem scorePrimary score signalSurvey measurementMetric yearFishing reportDNR statusLargemouth Bass stocking
—Big LakePolk245————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Big Round LakePolk1,014————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Black Brook FlowagePolk69————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Bone LakePolk1,667————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Camelia LakePolk62————No · 0% signalPresent (Largemouth Bass)Yes
—Cedar LakeimpairedPolk1,120————No · 0% signalPresent (Largemouth Bass)—
—Church Pine LakePolk87————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Clam Falls FlowagePolk119————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Deer LakePolk786————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Grenquist LakePolk59————No · 0% signalPresent (Largemouth Bass)—
—Half Moon LakePolk550————No · 0% signalAbundant (Largemouth Bass)—
—Herby LakePolk63————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Horse LakeimpairedPolk221————No · 0% signalPresent (Largemouth Bass)—
—Horseshoe LakePolk398————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Largon LakePolk135————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)Yes
—Little Butternut LakePolk185————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Long LakePolk61————No · 0% signalPresent (Largemouth Bass)—
—Long Trade LakePolk150————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Lotus LakeimpairedPolk246————No · 0% signalPresent (Largemouth Bass)Yes

Methodology

How this list is built

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, 30% survey rate, and 10% recency, plus 5% for a current species report. 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 largemouth bass ranking.

FAQ

Polk County largemouth bass fishing FAQ

Which largemouth bass lakes receive a numeric county rank?

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 Polk County.

How many Polk County lakes have largemouth bass?

54 Polk County lakes have a DNR largemouth bass status record. Numeric rank still requires an exact comparable family plus the acreage and access gates.

Best largemouth bass lakes statewideBest musky in Polk CountyBest walleye in Polk CountyBest smallmouth bass in Polk CountyBest panfish in Polk CountyBest northern pike in Polk CountyAll Polk County lakes

Source data: Wisconsin DNR lake, stocking, and fisheries records as aggregated by LakeList. 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.