Minnesota · Crow Wing County
Blue Lake Fishing guide
Blue Lake is a 177-acre lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, reaching 48 ft at its deepest point. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 1 time, most recently in 1982, with largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill and crappie in the nets. That survey is 44 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
The DNR last surveyed Blue Lake in 1982. Ratings need a survey from the last 20 years, so this page lists the species from that older record without numbers.
- Largemouth bass
- Northern pike
- Bluegill
- Crappie
- Yellow perch
- Rock bass
How to fish Blue Lake through the year
Crappie
- Spring
- Crappie are up in the back bays and against wood in a few feet of water, spawning shallower than most people fish for them.
- Early summer
- Crappie are pulling off the bays to the first deep weed edge and brush, still reachable shallow at dusk.
- Summer
- Crappie are over the basin of a stratified lake, well off any structure, which is why summer netting barely catches them inshore. On a lake that drops to 48 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Crappie are schooled along the deep weedline and the basin edge, pushing shallow to feed at dusk while the water still turns over slowly.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn.
- 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 48 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.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
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
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Black Crappie | 1,000 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 1982 survey
Yellow bullheads and sunfish are presently abundant. Tullibee population has apparently disappeared. Northern pike have increased considerably since last survey. Yellow perch seem to be present in approximately the same numbers.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Blue Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Blue 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.
DNR bathymetry
Blue Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Allen Lake · 45 ac · 1.6 mi
- Butterfield Lake · 194 ac · 2 mi
- Mitchell Lake · 429 ac · 2.5 mi
- Ruth Lake · 599 ac · 2.6 mi
- Eagle Lake · 350 ac · 2.8 mi
- Smokey Hollow Lake · 126 ac · 3.3 mi
- Roosevelt Lake · 1,511 ac · 3.3 mi
- Trout Lake · 117 ac · 3.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Blue Lake?
Blue Lake reaches 48 ft at its deepest point; about 43% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Blue Lake?
Blue Lake covers 177 acres with about 2.3 miles of shoreline.
What fish are in Blue Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 1982) record largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Blue Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked black crappie in 2025.
When was Blue Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Blue Lake in 1982. That is more than 20 years ago, so this page lists species without ratings.
Page updated .
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The live map adds today's conditions and ranked spots for Blue Lake, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open Blue Lake on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report