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Wisconsin›Best lakes›Largemouth Bass›Washburn County

WI · ranked by public data

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

78 Washburn County lakes have a DNR largemouth bass status record; 60 lakes with status, survey, or report evidence met our criteria (18 excluded for no verified public access), out of 254 documented lakes in the county. Updated July 2026.

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

    190.0system score
    1,132 acres

    Washburn County, WI

    Spooner Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.84, -91.821,132 acres | 17 ft max2 public access pointsLargemouth Bass, Northern Pike

    90.0 within-system score · 31,243.2 lake-scale opportunity index · 27.6 fish/mile · 2022 DNR survey

    How this within-system rank was determined
    • Within-system score: 90.0/100
    • Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 31,243.2 (27.6 fish/mile × 1,132 acres; not a fish count)
    • Survey rate (30%): 27.6 fish/mile
    • Survey recency (10%): 2022
    • Species fishing report (5%): not found
    • Survey method: 2022 Spring Electrofishing II
    • DNR status (unscored): Common (Largemouth Bass)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Largemouth Bass)
  2. 227.5system score
    2,513 acres

    Washburn County, WI

    Shell Lake

    enhancedDepth mapShore accessWater data
    45.73, -91.902,513 acres | 36 ft max6 public access pointsLargemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass

    27.5 within-system score · 7,790.3 lake-scale opportunity index · 3.1 fish/mile · 2018 DNR survey

    How this within-system rank was determined
    • Within-system score: 27.5/100
    • Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 7,790.3 (3.1 fish/mile × 2,513 acres; not a fish count)
    • Survey rate (30%): 3.1 fish/mile
    • Survey recency (10%): 2018
    • Species fishing report (5%): not found
    • Survey method: 2018 late-spring electrofishing
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Largemouth Bass)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Largemouth Bass)
  3. 325.0system score
    325 acres

    Washburn County, WI

    Balsam Lake

    enhancedDepth mapDNR impairmentWater data
    45.65, -91.58325 acres | 49 ft max1 public access pointLargemouth Bass, Panfish

    25.0 within-system score · 3,185 lake-scale opportunity index · 9.8 fish/mile · 2023 DNR survey

    How this within-system rank was determined
    • Within-system score: 25.0/100
    • Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 3,185 (9.8 fish/mile × 325 acres; not a fish count)
    • Survey rate (30%): 9.8 fish/mile
    • Survey recency (10%): 2023
    • Species fishing report (5%): not found
    • Survey method: SE2 boat electrofishing
    • DNR status (unscored): Common (Largemouth Bass)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Largemouth bass)
    • DNR impairment (unscored context)
  4. Comparable adult population density — one lake recorded, no peer rank

    –
    2,513 acres

    Washburn County, WI

    Shell Lake

    enhancedDepth mapShore accessWater data
    45.73, -91.902,513 acres | 36 ft max6 public access pointsLargemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass

    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: 1.3 fish/acre
    • Survey recency: 2013
    • Survey method: 2013 spring mark-recapture and electrofishing
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Largemouth Bass)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Largemouth Bass)
  5. Comparable spring electrofishing catch per effort (fish/mile) — one lake recorded, no peer rank

    –
    2,513 acres

    Washburn County, WI

    Shell Lake

    enhancedDepth mapShore accessWater data
    45.73, -91.902,513 acres | 36 ft max6 public access pointsLargemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass

    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: 15.9 fish/mile
    • Survey recency: 2013
    • Survey method: 2013 spring mark-recapture and electrofishing
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Largemouth Bass)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Largemouth Bass)
  6. Documented species evidence — unranked and alphabetical

    –
    132 acres

    Washburn County, WI

    Bass Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.71, -91.65132 acres | 31 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
  7. –
    187 acres

    Washburn County, WI

    Bass Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.95, -91.63187 acres | 35 ft max1 public access pointLargemouth Bass, Walleye

    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
  8. –
    100 acres

    Washburn County, WI

    Bean Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.95, -91.58100 acres | 35 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
  9. –
    59 acres

    Washburn County, WI

    Beartrack Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    46.13, -92.0459 acres | 36 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
  10. –
    87 acres

    Washburn County, WI

    Beaver Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.96, -91.5787 acres | 16 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
RankLakeCountyAcresSystem scorePrimary score signalSurvey measurementMetric yearFishing reportDNR statusLargemouth Bass stocking
—Big Bass LakeWashburn201————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Big Devil LakeWashburn166————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Birch LakeWashburn364————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Cable LakeWashburn179————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Casey LakeWashburn240————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Chicog LakeWashburn125————No · 0% signalAbundant (Largemouth Bass)—
—Chippanazie LakeWashburn57————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Derosier LakeWashburn106————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)Yes
—Dilley LakeWashburn71————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Dugan LakeWashburn52————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Dunn LakeWashburn181————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Ellsworth LakeWashburn161————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Fenton LakeWashburn70————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Gilmore LakeWashburn371————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Goose LakeWashburn58————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Gull LakeWashburn518————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Harmon LakeWashburn100————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Horseshoe LakeWashburn177————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Island LakeWashburn252————No · 0% signalCommon (Largemouth Bass)—
—Kekegama LakeWashburn128————No · 0% signalAbundant (Largemouth Bass)—

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

Washburn County largemouth bass fishing FAQ

Which largemouth bass lakes receive a numeric county rank?

3 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 Washburn County.

How many Washburn County lakes have largemouth bass?

78 Washburn 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 Washburn CountyBest walleye in Washburn CountyBest smallmouth bass in Washburn CountyBest panfish in Washburn CountyBest northern pike in Washburn CountyAll Washburn 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.