Minnesota · Carver County
Auburn Lake Fishing guide
Auburn Lake is a 291-acre lake in Carver County, Minnesota, reaching 84 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 5.9 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
No recent survey rating.
Northern pikeGood numbers10.8per gill net24"Typical32"Biggest
Lengths measured · 70 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 70 fish
2022Lengths measured · 65 fish
2017Lengths measured · 96 fish
2012Lengths measured · 46 fish
2006BluegillFair numbers46per trap net6"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 718 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 718 fish
2022Lengths measured · 500 fish
2017Lengths measured · 760 fish
2012Lengths measured · 724 fish
2006CrappieJust a few3.7per trap net7"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 96 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 96 fish
2022Lengths measured · 47 fish
2017Lengths measured · 89 fish
2012Lengths measured · 86 fish
2006Rates 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 Auburn Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth.
- 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 84 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.
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 84 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 | Northern pike | Largemouth bass | Bluegill |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 32" | 12" | 7" |
| 2017 | 32" | 14" | 8" |
| 2012 | 29" | 21" | 8" |
| 2006 | 33" | 8" | 8" |
| 2000 | 29" | 16" | 7" |
| 1995 | 29" | 19" | 8" |
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 · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
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
Bluegill · Live bait
Clip-On Bobber + Worm
half to whole garden nightcrawler
Bluegill · Soft plastics
Tungsten Jig + Micro Plastic
1–1.5" micro plastic
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 2022 survey
Auburn is a 290-acre (158 littoral acres) lake with a maximum depth of 84 feet. Auburn is located west of Victoria, MN in northern Carver County. Auburn is primarily managed for Northern Pike, but also supports catchable populations of Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Black Crappie. Public water access is provided by DNR Parks and Trails on the north side of the west basin of the lake (up to 12 vehicle/trailer parking spaces).
A Standard Survey (9 trap nets/6 gill nets) was conducted on Auburn Lake during the week of 6/27/2022 to assess the fishery. Auburn Lake is divided into an east and west basin, connected through a narrow cattail channel. Both basins had moderate water clarity, measured at 7 feet (west basin) and 5 feet (east basin) during the time of this survey. Dissolved oxygen was 0 parts per million (ppm) below 52 feet (west basin) and 14 feet (east basin) during the survey period. Eurasian Watermilfoil has been found in Auburn Lake and remains present.
Read the full DNR narrative
High numbers of Northern Pike were sampled with gill nets (10.8/net). There were 65 Northern Pike sampled in gill nets, with an average size of 24.1 inches and the largest measured at 31.5 inches. Size and catch data describes a balanced population (an intermediate between high numbers of small fish and few numbers of large fish). Despite high numbers, Northern Pike growth was moderate compared to similar lakes across the metro, with an average length of 18.3 inches by age 3, and 23.0 inches by age 5. Recruitment was consistent with six consecutive year classes present during sampling and age analysis. High numbers and above average sizes should provide excellent angling opportunity for Northern Pike.
Largemouth Bass are present in Auburn Lake, although targeted boat-electrofishing did not occur during the 2022 survey. Incidental capture with trap and gill nets caught one Largemouth Bass, measuring 13 inches. Future surveys will include a targeted spring boat-electrofishing component.
High numbers of Bluegill were sampled with trap nets (46.0/net). The 2022 catch rate was the highest Bluegill catch rate on Auburn Lake in the previous 25 years. There were 414 Bluegill sampled in trap nets during the 2022 survey, with an average length of 5.7 inches and the largest measured at 7.9 inches. High numbers of Bluegill are likely increasing competition among other Bluegill and in-turn growth rates and sizes remain slow/small.
Moderate numbers of Black Crappie were sampled with gill nets (10.5/net) and trap nets (3.7/net), near the expected catch rate of other metro lakes. There were 96 Black Crappie sampled during the 2022 survey, with an average length of 7.1 inches and the largest measured at 13.1 inches. Despite a small average size, with only 7% of crappie sampled greater than 9 inches, the presence of a single fish greater than 13 inches shows a lot of promise for the Black Crappie fishery.
Other fish species sampled in low abundances were Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Bowfin, Common Carp, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Bullhead, and Yellow Perch.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Auburn Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Auburn 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
- Auburn Lake, Carver County Park Reserve (trailer launch)
- Auburn Lake Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Auburn Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Kelser's Pond · 20 ac · 0.9 mi
- Steiger Lake · 166 ac · 1.3 mi
- Zumbra-Sunny Lake · 271 ac · 1.5 mi
- Stone Lake · 101 ac · 1.6 mi
- Wassermann Lake · 170 ac · 1.7 mi
- Piersons Lake · 267 ac · 2.5 mi
- Parley Lake · 258 ac · 2.5 mi
- Bavaria Lake · 167 ac · 2.8 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Auburn Lake?
Auburn Lake reaches 84 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 23 ft; about 54% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Auburn Lake?
Auburn Lake covers 291 acres with about 4.2 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Auburn Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Auburn Lake average 5.9 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Auburn Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2022) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Auburn Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Auburn Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Auburn Lake have a public access?
Yes. Auburn Lake has 2 public access sites, including Auburn Lake, Carver County Park Reserve (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Auburn Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 32"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1995.
When was Auburn Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Auburn Lake in 2022, the most recent of 10 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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