Minnesota · Itasca County
Antler Lake Fishing guide
Antler Lake is a 234-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota, reaching 90 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 10 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 8 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Largemouth bassPresent1per gill net6"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 29 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 29 fish
2025Lengths measured · 17 fish
2012Lengths measured · 9 fish
2000Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Northern pikeJust a few3.3per gill net24"Typical31"Biggest
Lengths measured · 38 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 38 fish
2025Lengths measured · 34 fish
2012Lengths measured · 26 fish
2000BluegillFair numbers27.7per trap net4"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 254 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 254 fish
2025Lengths measured · 232 fish
2012Lengths measured · 89 fish
2000CrappieJust a few0.8per trap net9"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 28 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 28 fish
2025Lengths measured · 59 fish
2012Lengths measured · 24 fish
2000Yellow perchJust a few0.9per gill net6"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 10 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 10 fish
2025Lengths measured · 5 fish
2012Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 6 fish
2000Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Rates 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 Antler Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 10 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 90 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. At 10 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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 90 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 | 26" | 18" | 31" |
| 2012 | 25" | 15" | 28" |
| 2000 | 28" | 13" | 31" |
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 · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
Largemouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Skirted Casting Jig + Craw Trailer
3.5–4" craw-style trailer on a skirted casting/flipping jig
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.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Antler Lake is a 306-acre lake located about nine miles southeast of Bigfork, Minnesota. It's a deep, clear lake-reaching depths of up to 90 feet-with water clarity around 10 feet. During the summer, oxygen levels drop off below about 65-70 feet, which limits usable habitat for fish. However, the upper portion of the lake still provides enough cool, oxygen-rich water to support cold-water species. For anglers, this means fish are generally concentrated in the upper and mid-depth zones during the warmer months, making them more predictable to locate. A concrete public boat access on the northwest side provides easy entry.
Northern Pike are the primary management focus in Antler Lake, and the fishery is geared toward producing quality-sized fish rather than high numbers. Anglers can expect moderate catch rates, but with a strong chance of hooking into desirable sized fish. Recent sampling showed an average of 3.3 pike per gill net, which is close to the lake's historical average. Pike ranged from 17 to 31 inches, with an average length of about 25 inches. Notably, most fish were in the desirable size range-about 87% were over 21 inches, and nearly a quarter exceeded 28 inches. This size structure favors anglers looking for larger, more memorable catches rather than frequent action with smaller fish. Consistent reproduction and a wide range of age classes also suggest this fishery should remain stable.
Read the full DNR narrative
Black Crappie are present in lower numbers, but they offer occasional opportunities for anglers willing to put in the time. Most crappie caught were under 10 inches, although a few fish reached up to 13.5 inches. The population appears to reproduce regularly, but only a small portion of fish grow into larger, keeper sizes. Anglers may find inconsistent success, with some year classes providing better fishing than others.
Bluegill are abundant and provide steady action, especially for anglers targeting panfish. However, size is a limiting factor. Most Bluegill are between 3 and 6 inches, with relatively few fish exceeding that range. Only about a quarter of the population is over 6 inches, and fish larger than 8 inches are rare. This makes Antler Lake a good option for numbers, but less ideal for anglers seeking larger "keeper" Bluegill.
Walleye are present but at low densities. Anglers targeting walleye should expect limited opportunities, although the fish that are caught tend to be larger, ranging from about 22 to 26 inches. These fish are likely older individuals, and the low numbers suggest this is not a primary Walleye lake.
Yellow Perch are also found in low to moderate numbers, typically around 6 to 7.5 inches in length. While not a major target species, they can provide some additional action, particularly when fishing for other species and are an important prey fish for the lake's predators.
Other species present in the lake include Pumpkinseed, Largemouth Bass, Rock Bass, hybrid sunfish, Yellow Bullhead, and Tullibee, adding to the overall diversity of the fishery.
Overall, Antler Lake offers a balanced angling experience. It stands out as a good destination for anglers targeting quality Northern Pike, with dependable panfish action for numbers. However, anglers looking for larger panfish or consistent walleye fishing may find better opportunities elsewhere.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Antler Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Antler 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
- Antler Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Antler Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Beaver Lake · 58 ac · 0.6 mi
- Eagle Lake · 285 ac · 1.9 mi
- Anderson Lake · 295 ac · 2.8 mi
- Horseshoe Lake · 142 ac · 3.2 mi
- White Swan Lake · 165 ac · 3.5 mi
- Long (Main Bay) Lake · 346 ac · 3.7 mi
- Gale Lake · 86 ac · 3.8 mi
- Round Lake · 460 ac · 4.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Antler Lake?
Antler Lake reaches 90 ft at its deepest point; about 33% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Antler Lake?
Antler Lake covers 234 acres with about 4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Antler Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Antler Lake average 10 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Antler Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Antler Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Antler Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Antler Lake have a public access?
Yes. Antler Lake has one public access site: Antler Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Antler Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 26"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2000.
When was Antler Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Antler Lake in 2025, the most recent of 8 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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