Minnesota · Crow Wing County
Borden Lake Fishing guide
Borden Lake covers 1,011 acres in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, reaching 84 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 11.8 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 18 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeFair numbers2.4per gill net19"Typical29"Biggest
Lengths measured · 42 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 42 fish
2021Lengths measured · 20 fish
2014Lengths measured · 26 fish
2008Lengths measured · 9 fish
2003Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Largemouth bassFair numbers22per hr (electrofishing)9"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 100 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 2 fish
2024Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 98 fish
2021Lengths measured · 60 fish
2014Lengths measured · 171 fish
2008Smallmouth bassFair numbers9.9per hr (electrofishing)15"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 11 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 11 fish
2021Lengths measured · 10 fish
2014Lengths measured · 35 fish
2008Lengths measured · 21 fish
2003Northern pikeFair numbers6.3per gill net21"Typical34"Biggest
Lengths measured · 91 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 11 fish
2024Lengths measured · 80 fish
2021Lengths measured · 103 fish
2014Lengths measured · 66 fish
2008Present in recent DNR surveys.
BluegillJust a few8.9per trap net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 919 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2024Lengths measured · 66 fish
2024Lengths measured · 351 fish
2023Lengths measured · 177 fish
2021Lengths measured · 325 fish
2021CrappieJust a few0.8per trap net9"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 218 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2024Lengths measured · 10 fish
2024Lengths measured · 93 fish
2023Lengths measured · 49 fish
2021Lengths measured · 66 fish
2021Rock bassExcellent numbers1.6per seine haul8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 42 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 5 fish
2024Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 37 fish
2021Lengths measured · 19 fish
2014Lengths measured · 15 fish
2008Rates 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 Borden Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 11.8 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 84 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 11.8 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 84 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 | Smallmouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | 12" | — |
| 2021 | 29" | 19" | 19" |
| 2014 | 26" | 17" | 19" |
| 2008 | 28" | 18" | 18" |
| 2003 | 25" | 19" | 18" |
| 1998 | 22" | 16" | 17" |
| 1993 | 24" | 15" | 17" |
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
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Smallmouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Tail Spinner
Compact lead body with a free-spinning blade on the tail
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 2025 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Borden Lake on July 31st, 2025, 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. 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 81.0 feet), the water temperature decreased below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 15.8 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 16.0 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 0.2 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present but marginal for Cisco.
Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 20.8 degrees C (69.4 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were marginal for Cisco at the time of the survey as the layer was confined to less than 3 feet of suitable habitat at the time of the survey.
Read the full DNR narrative
Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 2023 and 2024 indicate marginal (i.e., 1.1 feet) and unsuitable (i.e., 0.0 feet) oxythermal habitat, respectively. 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
Borden Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Borden 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
- DNR access: East side off of Highway 18.
DNR bathymetry
Borden Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Smith Lake · 491 ac · 2.8 mi
- Barbour Lake · 56 ac · 3.1 mi
- Round Lake · 737 ac · 3.4 mi
- Holt Lake · 164 ac · 3.5 mi
- Partridge Lake · 188 ac · 3.5 mi
- Turtle Lake · 108 ac · 3.6 mi
- Hanks Lake · 165 ac · 4.2 mi
- Portage Lake · 287 ac · 4.3 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Borden Lake?
Borden Lake reaches 84 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 22 ft; about 30% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Borden Lake?
Borden Lake covers 1,011 acres with about 12.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Borden Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Borden Lake average 11.8 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Borden Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Borden Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Borden Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Borden Lake have a public access?
Yes. Borden Lake has one public access site: DNR access (East side off of Highway 18.).
How big do walleye get in Borden Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 29"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1993.
When was Borden Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Borden Lake in 2025, the most recent of 18 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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