Minnesota · Itasca County
Ball Club Lake Fishing guide
Ball Club Lake sits in Itasca County, Minnesota, and covers 4,335 acres, reaching 85 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 12.9 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 10 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Fair numbers2.4per gill net18"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 37 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 1 fish
2024Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 36 fish
2022Lengths measured · 37 fish
2014Lengths measured · 57 fish
2007Northern pikeJust a few5.5per gill net21"Typical32"Biggest
Lengths measured · 86 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 2 fish
2024Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 84 fish
2022Lengths measured · 103 fish
2014Lengths measured · 191 fish
2007BluegillJust a few3.1per trap net3"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 46 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 46 fish
2024Lengths measured · 5 fish
2014Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 12 fish
2007Lengths measured · 1 fish
1998Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Yellow perchFair numbers4.1per gill net6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 102 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 40 fish
2024Lengths measured · 62 fish
2022Lengths measured · 157 fish
2014Lengths measured · 199 fish
2007Rock bassExcellent numbers2.3per seine haul9"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 10 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 4 fish
2024Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 6 fish
2022Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 6 fish
2014Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 15 fish
2007Rates 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 Ball Club Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 12.9 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 85 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 12.9 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 85 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 18" | 6" | 19" |
| 2022 | 25" | — | 32" |
| 2014 | 23" | — | 29" |
| 2007 | 22" | 14" | 31" |
| 1998 | 23" | — | 35" |
| 1993 | 21" | 2" | 30" |
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
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 | 16,216 fingerlings · 5,145 yearlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 20,920 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 7,429 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 1,180,000 fry |
| 2018 | Lake Whitefish | 13,778 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 9,096 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 103,305 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Ball Club Lake, which is located wholly within the Leech Lake Reservation, on August 5th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. Lake Whitefish hold significant cultural importance to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe (LLBO). This species held such importance that the LLBO started a Lake Whitefish stocking program in 1986. This stocking program supported the Ball Club Lake Fishery for over 30 years. This fishery continues to remain active for those that continue traditional netting. LLBO holds Clean Water Act jurisdiction over waters within the exterior boundaries of the Leech Lake Reservation, which allows LLBO to establish water quality standards to protect Reservation waters and culturally important aquatic resources.
During the summer, Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth 65.6 feet), the water temperature decreased below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 22.6 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 46.5 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 23.8 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present for Cisco.
Read the full DNR narrative
Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 11.3 degrees C (52.3 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Cisco at the time of the survey.
Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to August 24th) in four years, between 2007-2024, also indicate suitable oxythermal habitat in all years surveyed, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2022 when the suitable oxythermal habitat layer was 7.1 feet thick. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Ball Club Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Ball Club 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.
Open the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report
All Ball Club Lake fishing reports → · Itasca County reports
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Ball Club Lake (S) (trailer launch)
- Ball Club Lake (W) (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Ball Club Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Little Ball Club Lake · 185 ac · 5 mi
- Little Winnibigoshish Lake · 1,002 ac · 5.6 mi
- Chase Lake · 211 ac · 9.7 mi
- Six Mile Lake · 1,323 ac · 9.9 mi
- Little Deer Lake · 67 ac · 10.7 mi
- Little Cut Foot Sioux Lake · 619 ac · 10.9 mi
- Island Lake · 285 ac · 11.6 mi
- Cut Foot Sioux Lake · 2,771 ac · 11.8 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Ball Club Lake?
Ball Club Lake reaches 85 ft at its deepest point; about 23% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Ball Club Lake?
Ball Club Lake covers 4,335 acres with about 19.5 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Ball Club Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Ball Club Lake average 12.9 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Ball Club Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Ball Club Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Ball Club Lake have a public access?
Yes. Ball Club Lake has 2 public access sites, including Ball Club Lake (S) (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Ball Club Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 25"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1993.
When was Ball Club Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Ball Club Lake in 2025, the most recent of 10 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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