Minnesota · Becker County
Boot Lake Fishing guide
Boot Lake sits in Becker County, Minnesota, and covers 385 acres, reaching 109 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 17.7 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 14 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Good numbers5.2per gill net16"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 49 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 49 fish
2021Lengths measured · 33 fish
2016Lengths measured · 47 fish
2011Lengths measured · 81 fish
2006Largemouth bassPresent0.3per seine haul9"Typical14"Biggest
Lengths measured · 36 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 16 fish
2021Lengths measured · 20 fish
2021Lengths measured · 23 fish
2016Lengths measured · 18 fish
2011Northern pikeFair numbers9.1per gill net18"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 96 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 8 fish
2021Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 88 fish
2021Lengths measured · 60 fish
2016Lengths measured · 88 fish
2011BluegillJust a few14.2per trap net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 283 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 182 fish
2021Lengths measured · 101 fish
2021Lengths measured · 274 fish
2016Lengths measured · 122 fish
2011CrappiePresent1.4per gill net4"Typical6"Biggest
Lengths measured · 13 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 13 fish
2021Lengths measured · 2 fish
2016Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 9 fish
2001Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 8 fish
1996Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Rock bassExcellent numbers1.7per trap net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 49 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 23 fish
2021Lengths measured · 26 fish
2021Lengths measured · 40 fish
2016Lengths measured · 33 fish
2011Rates 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 Boot Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 17.7 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 109 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. At 17.7 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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 109 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 | 25" | 28" | 14" |
| 2016 | 26" | 29" | 17" |
| 2011 | 24" | 35" | 19" |
| 2006 | 27" | 25" | 14" |
| 2001 | 26" | 28" | 19" |
| 1996 | 27" | 29" | 14" |
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
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
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 | 761 fingerlings · 188 yearlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 1,860 fingerlings · 125 yearlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 3,471 yearlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 3,355 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 84 fingerlings · 583 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Boot Lake on July 30th, 2025. This was done to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. 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 data collected from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth was 69.9 feet), the water temperature decreased to 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 21.0 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 34.4 feet at the time of sampling. This layer in the water column was 13.4 feet, indicating oxythermal habitat for Cisco was present.
Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 10.5 degrees C (50.9 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.
Read the full DNR narrative
Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 5 years, between 2006-2021, also indicated suitable oxythermal habitat in all years surveyed, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2020 when the suitable oxythermal habitat layer was 8.3 feet thick. When adequate oxythermal habitat is not 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
Boot Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Boot 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
- Boot Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Boot Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Dinner Lake · 59 ac · 4 mi
- Hungry Man Lake · 144 ac · 4.2 mi
- Kane Lake · 32 ac · 4.4 mi
- Two Inlets Lake · 578 ac · 4.5 mi
- Cedar Lake · 103 ac · 4.6 mi
- Bass Lake · 204 ac · 5.6 mi
- Little Mantrap Lake · 381 ac · 5.7 mi
- Bad Medicine Lake · 803 ac · 7.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Boot Lake?
Boot Lake reaches 109 ft at its deepest point; about 21% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Boot Lake?
Boot Lake covers 385 acres with about 6.8 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Boot Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Boot Lake average 17.7 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Boot Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Boot Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Boot Lake have a public access?
Yes. Boot Lake has one public access site: Boot Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Boot 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 1996.
When was Boot Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Boot Lake in 2025, the most recent of 14 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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