Minnesota · Clearwater County
Big LaSalle Lake Fishing guide
Big LaSalle Lake is a 235-acre lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota, reaching 48 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 8.7 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 8 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Good numbers4.8per gill net18"Typical22"Biggest
Lengths measured · 30 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 30 fish
2021Lengths measured · 29 fish
2013Lengths measured · 53 fish
2006Lengths measured · 18 fish
1998Largemouth bassJust a few17.7per hr (electrofishing)9"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 42 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 42 fish
2021Lengths measured · 8 fish
2013Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 51 fish
2006Lengths measured · 16 fish
1998Northern pikeFair numbers7.7per gill net20"Typical32"Biggest
Lengths measured · 56 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 56 fish
2021Lengths measured · 51 fish
2013Lengths measured · 55 fish
2006Lengths measured · 62 fish
1998BluegillJust a few21.4per trap net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 213 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 213 fish
2021Lengths measured · 256 fish
2013Lengths measured · 225 fish
2006Lengths measured · 129 fish
1998Yellow perchGood numbers7.5per gill net6"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 69 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 69 fish
2021Lengths measured · 33 fish
2013Lengths measured · 180 fish
2006Lengths measured · 60 fish
1998Rock bassExcellent numbers5.2per gill net7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 51 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 51 fish
2021Lengths measured · 50 fish
2013Lengths measured · 58 fish
2006Lengths measured · 44 fish
1998Rates 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 Big LaSalle 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. On a lake that drops to 48 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.
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 48 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22" | 32" | 17" |
| 2013 | 27" | 38" | 14" |
| 2006 | 26" | 35" | 14" |
| 1998 | 20" | 35" | 15" |
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
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
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Hover Shot
3–4" soft jerkbait minnow nose-rigged on a 90°-eye hover head so it hangs dead level
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 373 yearlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 1,918 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 1,482 adults |
| 2019 | Walleye | 1,333 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 3,456 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2023 survey
A temperature-dissolved oxygen profile was collected in the deepest basin on Big LaSalle Lake on July 31, 2023, to evaluate the amount of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee. Based on the profile, the top of the thermocline (i.e., the location in the water column with the sharpest transition from warm to cold water) occurred at approximately 6 feet. Dissolved oxygen decreased to below 3.0 mg/L at 13.8 feet, which was just below the thermocline, at the time of sampling. The temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to below 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 6.4°C (43.5°F).
TDO3 values cooler than 21.5°C indicate that oxythermal conditions are favorable for Cisco. Dissolved oxygen concentrations within and below the thermocline indicate that suitable oxythermal habitat for Cisco was available across a range of depths at the time of sampling during the summer of 2023. Data collected in 1998-2020 further indicate suitable oxythermal habitat in most years. When adequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are not squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and therefore do not experience higher levels of stress.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Big LaSalle Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Big LaSalle 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
- Big La Salle Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Big LaSalle Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- LaSalle Lake · 238 ac · 2.9 mi
- Itasca Lake · 1,065 ac · 5.7 mi
- Hattie Lake · 359 ac · 5.7 mi
- Long Lake · 159 ac · 6 mi
- Alice Lake · 127 ac · 6.4 mi
- Ozawindib Lake · 159 ac · 6.5 mi
- Hennepin Lake · 418 ac · 6.7 mi
- Heart Lake · 225 ac · 6.8 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Big LaSalle Lake?
Big LaSalle Lake reaches 48 ft at its deepest point; about 17% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Big LaSalle Lake?
Big LaSalle Lake covers 235 acres with about 3.3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Big LaSalle Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Big LaSalle Lake average 8.7 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Big LaSalle Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Big LaSalle Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Big LaSalle Lake have a public access?
Yes. Big LaSalle Lake has one public access site: Big La Salle Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Big LaSalle 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 1998.
When was Big LaSalle Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Big LaSalle Lake in 2023, the most recent of 8 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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