Minnesota · Pope County
Amelia Lake Fishing guide
Amelia Lake covers 934 acres in Pope County, Minnesota, reaching 69 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 7.6 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 16 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024One of the best around14.3per gill net12"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 183 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2025Lengths measured · 5 fish
2025Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 170 fish
2025Lengths measured · 8 fish
2021Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 145 fish
2019Largemouth bassJust a few13per hr (electrofishing)15"Typical20"Biggest
Lengths measured · 46 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2025Lengths measured · 2 fish
2025Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 41 fish
2025Lengths measured · 3 fish
2021Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 183 fish
2019Northern pikeJust a few5.6per gill net19"Typical30"Biggest
Lengths measured · 86 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2025Lengths measured · 4 fish
2025Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 67 fish
2025Lengths measured · 15 fish
2021Lengths measured · 98 fish
2019BluegillJust a few11per trap net6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 766 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 156 fish
2025Lengths measured · 327 fish
2025Lengths measured · 82 fish
2023Lengths measured · 27 fish
2022CrappieJust a few2.1per trap net11"Typical14"Biggest
Lengths measured · 125 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 5 fish
2025Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 18 fish
2025Lengths measured · 26 fish
2023Lengths measured · 65 fish
2022Yellow perchFair numbers1.8per gill net5"Typical6"Biggest
Lengths measured · 25 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2025Lengths measured · 2 fish
2025Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 22 fish
2025Lengths measured · 1 fish
2021Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 6 fish
2019Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Rock bassElite fishery4.3per trap net8"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 108 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2025Lengths measured · 49 fish
2025Lengths measured · 4 fish
2025Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 55 fish
2021Lengths measured · 46 fish
2019Rates 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 Amelia Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- 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 69 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.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. On a lake that drops to 69 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
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 | Walleye | Largemouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28" | 20" | 30" |
| 2021 | 26" | 18" | 29" |
| 2019 | 26" | 19" | 36" |
| 2013 | 26" | 17" | 28" |
| 2008 | 28" | 17" | 32" |
| 2003 | 27" | 18" | 33" |
| 1998 | 26" | 20" | 33" |
| 1993 | 26" | 18" | 40" |
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:
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 · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | 188,500 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 188,500 fry |
| 2020 | Walleye | 1,534 yearlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 10,536 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 6,340 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A summer trap net survey was conducted in Lake Amelia by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment program staff beginning on June 11, 2025. Twelve trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured 10 species of fish, including one species that is intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Rock Bass). Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number and Bluegill and Rock Bass comprised a majority of the catch by biomass.
The trap net data were combined with nearshore data from July 2025 and gill net data from a survey conducted in August 2025 to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score.
Read the full DNR narrative
The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Chippewa River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
Lake Amelia provides recreational angling opportunities for sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Walleye. Lake Amelia provides habitat for the Pugnose Shiner, a species of special concern in Minnesota. Pugnose Shiner rely on aquatic vegetation and high-quality shoreline habitat to carry out their life cycles. You can help protect the Pugnose Shiner and other fish in Lake Amelia by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Amelia Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Amelia 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
- Amelia Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Amelia Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Villard Lake · 544 ac · 1.8 mi
- Leven Lake · 282 ac · 3.1 mi
- Westport Lake · 203 ac · 4.3 mi
- Ann Lake · 370 ac · 7.3 mi
- Lake Reno · 3,809 ac · 7.4 mi
- Maple Lake · 831 ac · 7.4 mi
- Grove Lake · 345 ac · 7.7 mi
- Turtle Lake · 218 ac · 8.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Amelia Lake?
Amelia Lake reaches 69 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 21 ft; about 40% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Amelia Lake?
Amelia Lake covers 934 acres with about 7.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Amelia Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Amelia Lake average 7.6 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Amelia Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Amelia Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Amelia Lake have a public access?
Yes. Amelia Lake has one public access site: Amelia Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Amelia Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 28"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1993.
When was Amelia Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Amelia Lake in 2025, the most recent of 16 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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