Minnesota · Cass County
Ada Lake Fishing guide
Ada Lake covers 963 acres in Cass County, Minnesota, reaching 60 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 11.6 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 10 times, most recently in 2022, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers3.2per gill net17"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 42 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 42 fish
2022Lengths measured · 19 fish
2016Lengths measured · 31 fish
2012Lengths measured · 20 fish
2007Largemouth bassPresent3.3per gill net10"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 53 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 53 fish
2022Lengths measured · 32 fish
2016Lengths measured · 80 fish
2012Lengths measured · 32 fish
2007Northern pikeGood numbers11.1per gill net20"Typical38"Biggest
Lengths measured · 142 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 142 fish
2022Lengths measured · 125 fish
2016Lengths measured · 122 fish
2012Lengths measured · 176 fish
2007BluegillFair numbers27.6per trap net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 378 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 378 fish
2022Lengths measured · 515 fish
2016Lengths measured · 268 fish
2012Lengths measured · 310 fish
2007CrappieJust a few1.2per trap net8"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 82 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 82 fish
2022Lengths measured · 35 fish
2016Lengths measured · 47 fish
2012Lengths measured · 54 fish
2007Yellow perchFair numbers2.1per gill net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 25 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 25 fish
2022Lengths measured · 2 fish
2016Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 7 fish
2012Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 5 fish
2007Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Rock bassExcellent numbers4.5per gill net6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 76 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 76 fish
2022Lengths measured · 48 fish
2016Lengths measured · 28 fish
2012Lengths measured · 72 fish
2007Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Ada Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 11.6 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Pike are on the outside weed edge and points.
- Summer
- Pike are on the deep weed edge and points near the coolest water they can find. On a lake that drops to 60 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 11.6 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure. On a lake that drops to 60 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Northern pike | Walleye | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 38" | 25" | 17" |
| 2016 | 36" | 23" | 14" |
| 2012 | 39" | 27" | 14" |
| 2007 | 38" | 26" | 18" |
| 2004 | 35" | 27" | 19" |
| 2001 | 30" | 22" | 18" |
| 1998 | 34" | 27" | 17" |
| 1995 | 39" | 26" | 14" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 1,272 yearlings |
| 2024 | Walleye | 225 yearlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 823,600 fry · 848 yearlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 1,272,000 fry · 760 adults |
| 2020 | Walleye | 3,180 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2022 survey
Ada Lake is a 963-acre lake with 7.21 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 60 feet located east of Backus, MN. A DNR owned public access is located on the northeast shore. The DNR has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical and other characteristics. Ada Lake is in Lake Class 27; lakes in this class are fairly deep and large. Other area lakes in this class include Crooked, Lower Sucker, Pleasant, Webb and Six Mile Lake. Ada Lake possesses a highly developed shoreline. The lake is primarily managed for Black Crappie, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike and secondarily for Walleye, Yellow Perch, and Cisco.
Ada Lake provides multi-species angling opportunity with the potential to produce large fish. Northern Pike are abundant, exceeding the lake's maximum management goal. Sampled pike ranged from 14 to 39 inches long. Black Crappie catch rates met lake management size and catch goals and crappie 4 to 14 inches were sampled. Walleye abundance in the lake is low (3.2 fish per net) and lengths ranged from 13 to 25 inches long. Programmed Walleye stocking was discontinued after 2015 and replaced with surplus Walleye fry, fingerlings, or larger fish stockings when available, the most recent of which was in 2021. Bluegill catch rates fell within the target management range and exceeded size goals with roughly half of sampled fish measuring 6 inches or longer. Cisco and Yellow Perch abundance has remained low across historic surveys, though have consistently been present in catch since initial surveying.
Read the full DNR narrative
Other fish species that anglers can expect to encounter include, Brown Bullhead, Bowfin, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.
People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Currently, no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Ada Lake. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Ada Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Ada Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Ada Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Ada Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Hand Lake · 289 ac · 2 mi
- Lizzie Lake · 414 ac · 2.1 mi
- Hattie Lake · 588 ac · 2.7 mi
- Jail Lake · 184 ac · 2.9 mi
- Ponto Lake · 388 ac · 2.9 mi
- Deep Portage Lake · 129 ac · 3.7 mi
- Long Lake · 246 ac · 3.8 mi
- Hay Lake · 364 ac · 3.9 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Ada Lake?
Ada Lake reaches 60 ft at its deepest point; about 44% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Ada Lake?
Ada Lake covers 963 acres with about 7.2 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Ada Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Ada Lake average 11.6 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Ada Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2022) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Ada Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2020.
Does Ada Lake have a public access?
Yes. Ada Lake has one public access site: Ada Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Ada Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 38"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1995.
When was Ada Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Ada Lake in 2022, the most recent of 10 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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