Minnesota · Lake County
August Lake Fishing guide
August Lake covers 229 acres in Lake County, Minnesota, reaching 19 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 6.5 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 10 times, most recently in 2019, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets. That survey is 7 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeExcellent numbers8.6per gill net13"Typical22"Biggest
Lengths measured · 116 fish
Recent · 2013 + 2019Lengths measured · 68 fish
2019Lengths measured · 48 fish
2013Lengths measured · 59 fish
2007Lengths measured · 32 fish
2002No recent survey rating.
Northern pikeJust a few3.3per gill net19"Typical33"Biggest
Lengths measured · 60 fish
Recent · 2013 + 2019Lengths measured · 21 fish
2019Lengths measured · 39 fish
2013Lengths measured · 27 fish
2007Lengths measured · 22 fish
2002No recent survey rating.
Yellow perchFair numbers3.6per gill net1"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 4189 fish
Recent · 2013 + 2019Lengths measured · 110 fish
2019Lengths measured · 4079 fish
2013Lengths measured · 41 fish
2007Lengths measured · 241 fish
2002Rock bassFair numbers0.9per gill net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 22 fish
Recent · 2013 + 2019Lengths measured · 10 fish
2019Lengths measured · 12 fish
2013Lengths measured · 8 fish
2007Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 8 fish
2002Only 8 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 August 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. With 96% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows. A 19-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
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. With 96% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops. A 19-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
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 | Northern pike | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 21" | 22" | 2" |
| 2013 | 22" | 33" | — |
| 2007 | 21" | 30" | — |
| 2002 | 27" | 21" | — |
| 1996 | 22" | 20" | — |
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 · Trolling
Planer Board Spread
4–6" crankbait or a 5–6 ft crawler harness run out to the side on an in-line planer board
Northern pike · Hardbaits
Weedless Spoon + Trailer (Silver Minnow)
3/8–1/2 oz weedless spoon
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Weighted-EWG Weedless Swimbait
5" paddletail swimbait
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Flipping/Punching Creature Bait
4" beaver/creature-style 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 2019 survey
August Lake is located about 15 miles northwest of Isabella within the Superior National Forest. There is a small public access on August Lake Road less than a mile west of Forest Service 388 with limited parking and an earthen ramp suitable for small boats and canoes. This is the first survey to be completed since Walleye stocking was discontinued in 2015.
The 2019 survey had the highest Walleye gill net catch to date. Size was good with an average length of about 13 inches and average weight about 0.9 pounds. Age analysis identified nine year classes with Walleye ranging from age-1 to age-9. Significant natural reproduction was documented with the 2015, 2017, and 2018 year classes well represented in the sample. Conversely, stocked year classes accounted for just 12% of the Walleye captured. Growth remained average for the area and similar to previous assessments with fish reaching 13.7 inches at age-4.
Read the full DNR narrative
Additional surveys are needed to determine if natural reproduction can sustain the population at this level into the future.
Northern Pike catch was within the normal range for the lake and similar to previous surveys. Size in gill nets was poor with pike averaging just 18.9 inches and 1.41 pounds. Historic survey data suggest Northern Pike rarely reach the size preferred by anglers, but an occasional big fish is reported.
Rock Bass, White Sucker, and Yellow Perch catches were all within the normal range for the lake and similar to previous surveys. Other species captured in quarter-inch mesh trap nets included Blacknose Shiner, Bluntnose Minnow, Burbot, Golden Shiner, Largemouth Bass, and Tadpole Madtom.
This was this first time Largemouth Bass have been sampled in the lake and the presence of several young-of-the-year fish indicates some natural reproduction is taking place. The source of the spawning stock is not known.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
August Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on August 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
- August Lake (carry-in)
DNR bathymetry
August Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Norway Lake · 12 ac · 2.6 mi
- Harris Lake · 122 ac · 2.9 mi
- Shamrock Lake · 56 ac · 2.9 mi
- Beaver Hut Lake · 55 ac · 3.3 mi
- Dunnigan Lake · 81 ac · 3.9 mi
- Gypsy Lake · 15 ac · 4.2 mi
- Denley Lake · 43 ac · 4.4 mi
- Deep Lake · 147 ac · 4.6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is August Lake?
August Lake reaches 19 ft at its deepest point; about 96% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is August Lake?
August Lake covers 229 acres with about 6 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in August Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on August Lake average 6.5 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in August Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2019) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is August Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for August Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does August Lake have a public access?
Yes. August Lake has one public access site: August Lake (carry-in).
How big do walleye get in August Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 22"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1996.
When was August Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed August Lake in 2019, the most recent of 10 surveys on record. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.
Page updated .
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