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Wisconsin›Best lakes›Smallmouth Bass›Washburn County

WI · ranked by public data

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

12 Washburn County lakes have a DNR smallmouth bass status record; 12 lakes with status, survey, or report evidence met our criteria, 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

    185.0system score
    2,513 acres

    Washburn County, WI

    Shell Lake

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

    85.0 within-system score · 78,656.9 lake-scale opportunity index · 31.3 fish/mile · 2018 DNR survey

    How this within-system rank was determined
    • Within-system score: 85.0/100
    • Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 78,656.9 (31.3 fish/mile × 2,513 acres; not a fish count)
    • Survey rate (30%): 31.3 fish/mile
    • Survey recency (10%): 2018
    • Species fishing report (5%): not found
    • Survey method: 2018 late-spring electrofishing
    • DNR status (unscored): Abundant (Smallmouth Bass)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Smallmouth Bass)
  2. 210.0system score
    325 acres

    Washburn County, WI

    Balsam Lake

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

    10.0 within-system score · 1,235 lake-scale opportunity index · 3.8 fish/mile · 2023 DNR survey

    How this within-system rank was determined
    • Within-system score: 10.0/100
    • Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 1,235 (3.8 fish/mile × 325 acres; not a fish count)
    • Survey rate (30%): 3.8 fish/mile
    • Survey recency (10%): 2023
    • Species fishing report (5%): not found
    • Survey method: SE2 boat electrofishing
    • DNR status (unscored): no record
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Smallmouth bass)
    • DNR impairment (unscored context)
  3. 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 pointsSmallmouth Bass, Walleye

    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: 2 fish/acre
    • Survey recency: 2013
    • Survey method: 2013 spring mark-recapture and electrofishing
    • DNR status (unscored): Abundant (Smallmouth Bass)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (Smallmouth Bass)
  4. 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 pointsSmallmouth Bass, Walleye

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

    –
    364 acres

    Washburn County, WI

    Birch Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.67, -91.55364 acres | 73 ft max2 public access pointsSmallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass

    Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system

    Why this lake is listed
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Smallmouth Bass)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: no survey on record
  6. –
    70 acres

    Washburn County, WI

    Fenton Lake

    enhancedDepth map
    45.67, -91.7470 acres | 52 ft max1 public access pointSmallmouth Bass, Panfish

    Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system

    Why this lake is listed
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Smallmouth Bass)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: no survey on record
  7. –
    100 acres

    Washburn County, WI

    Harmon Lake

    enhancedDepth map
    45.78, -91.67100 acres | 33 ft max1 public access pointSmallmouth Bass, Northern Pike

    Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system

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

    Washburn County, WI

    Lake Nancy

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    46.09, -91.99757 acres | 39 ft max2 public access pointsSmallmouth Bass, Panfish

    Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system

    Why this lake is listed
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Smallmouth Bass)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: Not caught in the lake's DNR survey
  9. –
    3,478 acres

    Washburn County, WI

    Long Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.72, -91.693,478 acres | 74 ft max4 public access pointsSmallmouth Bass, Northern Pike

    Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system

    Why this lake is listed
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Smallmouth Bass)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: no survey on record
  10. –
    206 acres

    Washburn County, WI

    Lower McKenzie Lake

    enhancedDepth mapWater data
    45.98, -92.02206 acres | 17 ft max1 public access pointSmallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass

    Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system

    Why this lake is listed
    • DNR status (unscored): Present (Smallmouth Bass)
    • DNR fisheries survey evidence: no survey on record
RankLakeCountyAcresSystem scorePrimary score signalSurvey measurementMetric yearFishing reportDNR statusSmallmouth Bass stocking
—Minong FlowageWashburn1,587————No · 0% signalPresent (Smallmouth Bass)—
—Slim LakeWashburn210————No · 0% signalPresent (Smallmouth Bass)—
—Stone LakeWashburn490————No · 0% signalAbundant (Smallmouth Bass)—
—Trego LakeWashburn383————No · 0% signalCommon (Smallmouth 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 smallmouth bass ranking.

FAQ

Washburn County smallmouth bass fishing FAQ

Which smallmouth 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 Washburn County.

How many Washburn County lakes have smallmouth bass?

12 Washburn County lakes have a DNR smallmouth bass status record. Numeric rank still requires an exact comparable family plus the acreage and access gates.

Best smallmouth bass lakes statewideBest musky in Washburn CountyBest walleye in Washburn CountyBest panfish in Washburn CountyBest largemouth bass 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.