Minnesota · Aitkin County
Blind Lake Fishing guide
Blind Lake sits in Aitkin County, Minnesota, and covers 304 acres, reaching 17 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 6.3 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 6 times, most recently in 2026, with largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill and crappie in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Northern pikeGood numbers10.3per gill net20"Typical35"Biggest
Lengths measured · 124 fish
Recent · 2018 + 2025Lengths measured · 18 fish
2025Lengths measured · 106 fish
2018Lengths measured · 122 fish
2010Lengths measured · 116 fish
2000BluegillJust a few8.9per trap net8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 210 fish
Recent · 2018 + 2025Lengths measured · 129 fish
2025Lengths measured · 81 fish
2018Lengths measured · 243 fish
2010Lengths measured · 334 fish
2000CrappieJust a few3.7per trap net7"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 166 fish
Recent · 2018 + 2025Lengths measured · 39 fish
2025Lengths measured · 127 fish
2018Lengths measured · 113 fish
2010Lengths measured · 179 fish
2000Yellow perchGood numbers8per gill net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 98 fish
Recent · 2018Lengths measured · 98 fish
2018Lengths measured · 344 fish
2010Lengths measured · 122 fish
2000Rates 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 Blind 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. With 100% 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 17-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Bluegill
- Spring
- Bluegill are on the beds in firm-bottomed shallows, in colonies of dozens. On a clear lake those colonies sit deeper than you expect.
- Early summer
- Bluegill are off the beds and onto the weed edges and brush, the biggest ones pulling out first.
- Summer
- Bluegill are on the deep weedline of a stratified lake, sliding out as the surface starts back down. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Bluegill are back up onto the flats and into the last green weeds, feeding hard while the shallows still hold heat. A 17-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 | Northern pike | Bluegill | Crappie |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 30" | 9" | 12" |
| 2018 | 35" | 10" | 11" |
| 2010 | 33" | 9" | 11" |
| 2000 | 31" | 9" | 10" |
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 · Hardbaits
Weedless Spoon + Trailer (Silver Minnow)
3/8–1/2 oz weedless spoon
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Bluegill · Live bait
Clip-On Bobber + Worm
half to whole garden nightcrawler
Bluegill · Soft plastics
Tungsten Jig + Micro Plastic
1–1.5" micro plastic
Crappie · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Crappie · Jigs & bladed
Beetle Spin
1.5–2" curly-tail grub trailer on a small in-line spinner jighead
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 2026 survey
This survey was conducted on 3/5/2026 to gauge the likelihood of a winterkill occurring on Blind Lake. Winter dissolved oxygen levels were good for Blind Lake and likely tolerable based on this survey with 5.9 ppm below the ice and 1.3 ppm near the bottom. Therefore, it seemed unlikely for any significant winterkill to occur in spring 2026.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Blind Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Blind 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
- Blind Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Blind Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Stark Lake · 217 ac · 3.2 mi
- Twin Lake · 79 ac · 3.7 mi
- Ross Lake · 492 ac · 4.3 mi
- Moulton Lake · 258 ac · 5.4 mi
- Upper Dean Lake · 259 ac · 6.5 mi
- Esquagamah Lake · 842 ac · 6.6 mi
- Round Lake · 634 ac · 6.8 mi
- Rogers Lake · 240 ac · 7.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Blind Lake?
Blind Lake reaches 17 ft at its deepest point; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Blind Lake?
Blind Lake covers 304 acres with about 4.9 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Blind Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Blind Lake average 6.3 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Blind Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2026) record largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Blind Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Blind Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Blind Lake have a public access?
Yes. Blind Lake has one public access site: Blind Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Blind Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 35"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2000.
When was Blind Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Blind Lake in 2026, the most recent of 6 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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