Minnesota · Cook County
Cascade Lake Fishing guide
Cascade Lake covers 452 acres in Cook County, Minnesota, reaching 17 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 7.7 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 7 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, northern pike and yellow perch in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeOne of the best around12.8per gill net16"Typical22"Biggest
Lengths measured · 99 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 99 fish
2023Lengths measured · 85 fish
2012Lengths measured · 80 fish
2007Lengths measured · 50 fish
1998Northern pikeJust a few1.7per gill net20"Typical29"Biggest
Lengths measured · 16 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 16 fish
2023Lengths measured · 22 fish
2012Lengths measured · 27 fish
2007Lengths measured · 24 fish
1998Yellow perchFair numbers1.5per gill net6"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 11 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 11 fish
2023Lengths measured · 32 fish
2012Lengths measured · 88 fish
2007Lengths measured · 24 fish
1998Rates 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 Cascade Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- 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. With 92% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows. A 17-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
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 92% 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.
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 | Yellow perch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 22" | 29" | 7" |
| 2012 | 22" | 23" | 8" |
| 2007 | 24" | 28" | 6" |
| 1998 | 24" | 37" | 7" |
| 1994 | 23" | 28" | 8" |
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 · Trolling
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
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
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Yellow perch · Live bait
Slip Bobber + Leech
jumbo or large leech
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 2023 survey
Cascade is a 451-acre lake located 18 miles north of Lutsen and access is through a public boat landing on the southeast corner of the lake. Cascade Lake is managed for walleye and northern pike. The 2023 standard survey was conducted to evaluate the survival and growth of the walleye and northern pike populations.
Walleye catch rates were high in 2023 and had been increasing since 1998. Walleye ranged from 7.4 to 22.1 inches with a mean length of 15.9 inches. Age distribution of captured walleye indicated fish from 14 different year classes, all naturally reproduced with the oldest fish being 19 years old. Growth rates were average until walleye reached about 18 inches in size, then walleye grew very slowly reaching a maximum size of only 22 inches. The relatively high abundance of walleye and low abundance of prey may be limiting overall growth, but Cascade Lake supports an excellent naturally reproducing walleye fishery for anglers interested in good catch rates.
Read the full DNR narrative
The northern pike catch of 2023 was historically low and below average for similar lakes in the area. Size structure of the northern pike captured ranged from 9.25 to 29.4 inches with a mean length of 20.2 inches. Anglers targeting northern pike in Cascade Lake have the ability to encounter some larger individuals.
Yellow perch abundance was low and had been declining since 1988. This is not surprising as walleye populations were increasing over this same time frame. The white sucker catch was also the lowest recorded and likely do not provide much forage for northern pike or walleye.
Cook County, Minnesota lakes continue to be susceptible to aquatic invasive species introductions. Invasive species have the potential to significantly alter fish communities and overall lake health. Anglers should clean watercraft and fishing gear, drain all water, and dispose of unused bait in the trash to prevent accidental introductions.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Cascade Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Cascade 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
- Cascade Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Cascade Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Little Cascade Lake · 262 ac · 1.2 mi
- Tomash Lake · 95 ac · 1.2 mi
- Jock Mock Lake · 20 ac · 1.4 mi
- Gust Lake · 143 ac · 2.1 mi
- Star Lake · 107 ac · 2.8 mi
- East Pipe Lake · 105 ac · 2.9 mi
- Homer Lake · 434 ac · 3.3 mi
- Kinogami Lake · 111 ac · 3.9 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Cascade Lake?
Cascade Lake reaches 17 ft at its deepest point; about 92% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Cascade Lake?
Cascade Lake covers 452 acres with about 8.7 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Cascade Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Cascade Lake average 7.7 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Cascade Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, northern pike, yellow perch.
Is Cascade Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Cascade Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Cascade Lake have a public access?
Yes. Cascade Lake has one public access site: Cascade Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Cascade Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 22"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Cascade Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Cascade Lake in 2023, the most recent of 7 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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