Minnesota · Beltrami County
Cass Lake Fishing guide
Cass Lake sits in Beltrami County, Minnesota, and covers 15,958 acres, reaching 120 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 13.9 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 38 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and muskellunge in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Excellent numbers10.3per gill net15"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 1201 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2023 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 156 fish
2025Lengths measured · 7 fish
2024Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 177 fish
2024Lengths measured · 254 fish
2023Largemouth bassJust a few5.8per hr (electrofishing)5"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 18 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2024Lengths measured · 15 fish
2024Lengths measured · 1 fish
2023Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 2 fish
2021Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 2 fish
2020Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Northern pikeJust a few3per gill net21"Typical37"Biggest
Lengths measured · 1017 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2023 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 52 fish
2025Lengths measured · 7 fish
2024Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 71 fish
2024Lengths measured · 60 fish
2023Present in recent DNR surveys.
BluegillJust a few2.3per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 42 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 35 fish
2024Lengths measured · 2 fish
2024Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 4 fish
2022Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 1 fish
2021Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Yellow perchElite fishery49per gill net7"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 5009 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2023 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 948 fish
2025Lengths measured · 56 fish
2024Lengths measured · 1023 fish
2024Lengths measured · 804 fish
2023Last recorded in the 1989 survey and not seen since.
Rock bassExcellent numbers2.3per trap net7"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 264 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2023 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 77 fish
2025Lengths measured · 34 fish
2024Lengths measured · 62 fish
2024Lengths measured · 25 fish
2023Rates 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 Cass Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 13.9 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 120 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 13.9 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 120 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 | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28" | — | 32" |
| 2024 | 26" | 7" | 35" |
| 2023 | 25" | 5" | 32" |
| 2022 | 26" | — | 37" |
| 2021 | 26" | 5" | 34" |
| 2020 | 26" | 5" | 36" |
| 2019 | 23" | 4" | 32" |
| 2018 | 27" | 5" | 31" |
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
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
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 | Walleye | 522,000 fry · 67,303 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Cass Lake, which is located wholly within the Leech Lake Reservation, on August 7th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Whitefish, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake (Cisco, also known as 'Tullibee', are also present). The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe (LLBO) holds Clean Water Act jurisdiction over waters within the exterior boundaries of the Leech Lake Reservation, which allows LLBO to establish water quality standards to protect Reservation waters and culturally important aquatic resources.
During the summer, Lake Whitefish require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 17.2 degrees C (63.0 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth 114.8 feet), the water temperature decreased below 17.2 degrees C (63.0 degrees F) at 37.9 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 79.8 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 41.9 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present for Lake Whitefish.
Read the full DNR narrative
Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 9.0 degrees C (48.2 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 17.2 degrees C (63.0 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Lake Whitefish at the time of the survey.
Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to August 24th) in 2024 the thickness of the layer of water in the water column was 29.2 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present for Lake Whitefish. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Lake Whitefish and Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Cass Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Cass 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
- Cass Lake (E) (trailer launch)
- Cass Lake, Hwy 2 (trailer launch)
- Cass Lake, Norway Beach (S) (trailer launch)
- Cass Lake Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Cass Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Windigo Lake · 195 ac · 0.4 mi
- Buck Lake · 360 ac · 2.9 mi
- Pike Bay Lake · 4,756 ac · 4.4 mi
- Andrusia Lake · 1,596 ac · 4.7 mi
- Little Wolf Lake · 525 ac · 5.1 mi
- Kitchi Lake · 1,865 ac · 5.3 mi
- Little Rice Lake · 123 ac · 5.9 mi
- Wolf Lake · 1,076 ac · 5.9 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Cass Lake?
Cass Lake reaches 120 ft at its deepest point; about 20% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Cass Lake?
Cass Lake covers 15,958 acres with about 45.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Cass Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Cass Lake average 13.9 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Cass Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, tiger muskellunge, rock bass.
Is Cass Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025.
Does Cass Lake have a public access?
Yes. Cass Lake has 4 public access sites, including Cass Lake (E) (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Cass Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 28"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2018.
When was Cass Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Cass Lake in 2025, the most recent of 38 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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