Minnesota · Anoka County
Centerville Lake Fishing guide
Centerville Lake sits in Anoka County, Minnesota, and covers 474 acres, reaching 19 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 2.4 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 11 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and muskellunge in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers3.7per gill net17"Typical24"Biggest
Lengths measured · 22 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 22 fish
2025Lengths measured · 6 fish
2013Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 17 fish
2007Lengths measured · 73 fish
2002Northern pikeGood numbers10per gill net26"Typical36"Biggest
Lengths measured · 60 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 60 fish
2025Lengths measured · 45 fish
2019Lengths measured · 28 fish
2013Lengths measured · 47 fish
2007Last recorded in the 1987 survey and not seen since.
BluegillPresent45per gill net6"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 816 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2025Lengths measured · 117 fish
2025Lengths measured · 269 fish
2025Lengths measured · 430 fish
2021Lengths measured · 115 fish
2019CrappiePresent21.2per gill net7"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 453 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 326 fish
2025Lengths measured · 127 fish
2025Lengths measured · 128 fish
2019Lengths measured · 80 fish
2013Yellow perchLast stocked 2025Excellent numbers18per gill net6"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 107 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 107 fish
2025Lengths measured · 4 fish
2019Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 44 fish
2013Lengths measured · 35 fish
2007No recent survey rating.
Rates 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 Centerville Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. In 2.4 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops. A 19-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 2.4 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows. A 19-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 | Northern pike | Walleye | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 36" | 24" | 13" |
| 2019 | 32" | — | 15" |
| 2013 | 30" | 27" | 18" |
| 2007 | 35" | 23" | 19" |
| 2002 | 32" | 27" | 17" |
| 1997 | 32" | 27" | 7" |
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:
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
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 1,049 fingerlings · 174 adults |
| 2025 | Yellow Perch | 6,300 adults |
| 2024 | Walleye | 1,372 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 1,860 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 5,400 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 4,312 fingerlings · 500 adults |
| 2019 | Walleye | 276,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 276,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 276,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 690,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Crappie were collected as part of a broad research project investigating populations across Minnesota. Springtime trap net surveys collected a total of 162 fish. Individuals averaged 7.2 inches with the largest individual being 9.1 inches. Growth was slow and individuals averaged 5.4 and 7.5 inches at age 3 and 6, respectively. Maximum age was 11.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Centerville Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Centerville 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
- Centerville Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Centerville Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Peltier Lake · 552 ac · 1.7 mi
- Reshanau Lake · 337 ac · 1.7 mi
- Otter Lake · 302 ac · 2.9 mi
- Bald Eagle Lake · 1,049 ac · 3.8 mi
- Loch Ness Lake · 10 ac · 4.2 mi
- Golden Lake · 58 ac · 4.4 mi
- Pleasant Lake · 607 ac · 4.7 mi
- Turtle Lake · 450 ac · 5.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Centerville Lake?
Centerville Lake reaches 19 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 12 ft; about 58% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Centerville Lake?
Centerville Lake covers 474 acres with about 4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Centerville Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Centerville Lake average 2.4 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Centerville Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish.
Is Centerville Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye and yellow perch in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Centerville Lake have a public access?
Yes. Centerville Lake has one public access site: Centerville Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Centerville Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 36"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1997.
When was Centerville Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Centerville Lake in 2025, the most recent of 11 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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