Minnesota · Cass County
Baby Lake Fishing guide
Baby Lake sits in Cass County, Minnesota, and covers 737 acres, reaching 69 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 13.4 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 13 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Fair numbers3.8per gill net15"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 47 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 47 fish
2024Lengths measured · 67 fish
2019Lengths measured · 41 fish
2016Lengths measured · 76 fish
2012Largemouth bassPresent2per gill net12"Typical15"Biggest
Lengths measured · 34 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 34 fish
2024Lengths measured · 70 fish
2019Lengths measured · 35 fish
2016Lengths measured · 68 fish
2012Northern pikeJust a few3.4per gill net23"Typical34"Biggest
Lengths measured · 41 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 41 fish
2024Lengths measured · 44 fish
2019Lengths measured · 40 fish
2016Lengths measured · 35 fish
2012Present in recent DNR surveys.
BluegillJust a few16.8per trap net3"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 271 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 271 fish
2024Lengths measured · 245 fish
2019Lengths measured · 697 fish
2016Lengths measured · 244 fish
2012CrappieJust a few0.7per trap net7"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 28 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 28 fish
2024Lengths measured · 12 fish
2019Lengths measured · 13 fish
2016Lengths measured · 5 fish
2012Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Yellow perchGood numbers4.7per gill net6"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 64 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 64 fish
2024Lengths measured · 50 fish
2019Lengths measured · 107 fish
2016Lengths measured · 119 fish
2012Rock bassExcellent numbers4.8per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 70 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 70 fish
2024Lengths measured · 118 fish
2019Lengths measured · 174 fish
2016Lengths measured · 163 fish
2012Rates 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 Baby Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 13.4 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 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. At 13.4 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 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 | Smallmouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 26" | 15" | 16" |
| 2019 | 26" | 19" | 18" |
| 2016 | 26" | 18" | 20" |
| 2012 | 23" | 17" | 19" |
| 2006 | 25" | 14" | 19" |
| 2000 | 21" | 18" | 17" |
| 1995 | 29" | 15" | 17" |
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
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Smallmouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Tail Spinner
Compact lead body with a free-spinning blade on the tail
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 | 3,962 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 7,936 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 2,674 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 4,230 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 16,704 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Baby Lake is a 737-acre lake with 11.73 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 69 feet. Baby Lake is located east of Hackensack Minnesota. A MNDNR-owned public access is located on the southeast shore. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has classified Minnesota lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Baby Lake is in Lake Class 23; lakes in the class are generally deep and clear lakes. Other Lake class 23 lakes in the Walker Area include Mule, Man, Horseshoe, Long, Portage, and Stony lakes. There is a channel between Baby and Man lakes navigable only by canoes, kayaks and small boats. Baby Lake is managed primarily for Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, and Walleye and secondarily for Bluegill, Black Crappie, Tullibee (Cisco), Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch.
Smallmouth and Largemouth bass are abundant. Smallmouth Bass ranged in length from 8 to 17 inches. Largemouth Bass lengths ranged from 6 to 16 inches with an average length of 13 inches. Walleye numbers were lower than previous surveys and did not meet the management goal. Walleye ranged in length from 10 to 26 inches with an average length of 16 inches. Northern Pike catch rates were similar to previous surveys and lengths ranged from 14 to 35 inches with an average length of 24 inches. Yellow Perch numbers increased slightly but remain below management goals. Yellow Perch ranged in length from 5 to 11 inches with an average length of 7 inches. Black Crappie numbers increased slightly, and lengths ranged from 4 to 13 inches long. Bluegill numbers were near average however, Bluegill were small and averaged less than 5 inches long with lengths ranging from 3 to 7 inches.
Read the full DNR narrative
Other fish species that were sampled in Baby Lake include Bowfin (Dogfish), Hybrid Sunfish, Muskellunge, Tullibee (Cisco), Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Yellow Bullhead, White Sucker, and Rock Bass.
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 the only aquatic invasive species (AIS) that has been identified in Baby Lake is the Rusty Crayfish. 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
Baby Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Baby 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
- Baby Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Baby Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Kid Lake · 168 ac · 1.1 mi
- Man Lake · 491 ac · 1.2 mi
- Child Lake · 285 ac · 1.5 mi
- McKeown Lake · 168 ac · 1.6 mi
- Moccasin Lake · 272 ac · 2.1 mi
- Barnum Lake · 151 ac · 2.2 mi
- Webb Lake · 720 ac · 2.4 mi
- Trillium Lake · 156 ac · 2.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Baby Lake?
Baby Lake reaches 69 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 31 ft; about 34% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Baby Lake?
Baby Lake covers 737 acres with about 11.7 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Baby Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Baby Lake average 13.4 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Baby Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Baby Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Baby Lake have a public access?
Yes. Baby Lake has one public access site: Baby Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Baby 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 1995.
When was Baby Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Baby Lake in 2024, the most recent of 13 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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