Minnesota · Polk County
Cameron Lake Fishing guide
Cameron Lake covers 225 acres in Polk County, Minnesota, reaching 9 ft at its deepest point. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 2 times, most recently in 1989, with northern pike, bluegill and yellow perch in the nets. That survey is 37 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
The DNR last surveyed Cameron Lake in 1989. Ratings need a survey from the last 20 years, so this page lists the species from that older record without numbers.
- Northern pike
- Bluegill
- Yellow perch
How to fish Cameron 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 9-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 9-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.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Spinnerbait
3/8–1/2 oz safety-pin spinnerbait with tandem willow-leaf blades
Bluegill · Live bait
Clip-On Bobber + Worm
half to whole garden nightcrawler
Bluegill · Soft plastics
Tungsten Jig + Micro Plastic
1–1.5" micro plastic
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Tungsten Jig + Micro Plastic
1–1.5" micro plastic
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 | 106,493 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 226,455 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 112,500 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 1989 survey
all, or nearly all gamefish were lost to winter- kill in early spring of 1989. As is typical, black bullheads appear to be the principle survivors.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Cameron Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Cameron 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
- Cameron Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Cameron Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Badger Lake · 256 ac · 1.1 mi
- Sarah Lake · 366 ac · 3.8 mi
- Crystal Lake · 118 ac · 4.6 mi
- Union Lake · 888 ac · 5.3 mi
- Maple Lake · 1,641 ac · 6.8 mi
- Hill River Lake · 102 ac · 9.9 mi
- Store Lake · 50 ac · 12.4 mi
- Turtle Lake · 525 ac · 16.6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Cameron Lake?
Cameron Lake reaches 9 ft at its deepest point; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Cameron Lake?
Cameron Lake covers 225 acres with about 2.8 miles of shoreline.
What fish are in Cameron Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 1989) record northern pike, bluegill, yellow perch.
Is Cameron Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2022.
Does Cameron Lake have a public access?
Yes. Cameron Lake has one public access site: Cameron Lake (trailer launch).
When was Cameron Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Cameron Lake in 1989, the most recent of 2 surveys on record. 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 Cameron Lake, plus a trip plan you can share:
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