Minnesota · Rice County
Circle Lake Fishing guide
Circle Lake covers 838 acres in Rice County, Minnesota, reaching 14 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 5.5 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 12 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
No recent survey rating.
BluegillLast stocked 2023Just a few3.9per trap net3"Typical6"Biggest
Lengths measured · 43 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 43 fish
2023Lengths measured · 137 fish
2017Lengths measured · 173 fish
2012Lengths measured · 96 fish
2007Yellow perchExcellent numbers13per gill net6"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 61 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 61 fish
2023Lengths measured · 134 fish
2017Lengths measured · 433 fish
2012Lengths measured · 20 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 Circle Lake through the year
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn.
- 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. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze. A 14-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 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 14-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 | Largemouth bass | Northern pike | Walleye |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 7" | 28" | — |
| 2017 | 12" | 32" | 17" |
| 2012 | 16" | 29" | 21" |
| 2007 | 16" | 27" | 24" |
| 2004 | — | 27" | 9" |
| 2001 | 6" | 30" | 17" |
| 1999 | 16" | 26" | 25" |
| 1993 | 2" | 34" | 22" |
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:
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
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 · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
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 | 209,500 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 326,992 fry |
| 2023 | Black Crappie | 300 adults |
| 2023 | Bluegill Sunfish | 758 adults |
| 2023 | Largemouth Bass | 20 adults |
| 2023 | Walleye | 209,500 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 419,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 419,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 419,224 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 624,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 628,604 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2023 survey
Three trap nets were set at Circle Lake on 17 April 2023 to check for winterkill. Black Bullheads and Golden Shiner were the dominant species sampled. Other fish that occured in low numbers include Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Largemouth Bass, and White Sucker. No Bluegill, Black Crappie, or Walleye were observed.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Circle Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Circle 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
- Circle Lake (trailer launch)
- Circle Lake Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Circle Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Fox Lake · 312 ac · 2 mi
- Union Lake · 397 ac · 3.1 mi
- Mazaska Lake · 688 ac · 4.1 mi
- Kelly & Dudley Lake · 128 ac · 4.4 mi
- Shields Lake · 941 ac · 5.9 mi
- French Lake · 876 ac · 6 mi
- Roberds Lake · 632 ac · 6.2 mi
- Hunt Lake · 176 ac · 7.7 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Circle Lake?
Circle Lake reaches 14 ft at its deepest point; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Circle Lake?
Circle Lake covers 838 acres with about 9.5 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Circle Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Circle Lake average 5.5 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Circle Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, white bass.
Is Circle Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Circle Lake have a public access?
Yes. Circle Lake has 2 public access sites, including Circle Lake (trailer launch).
How big do largemouth bass get in Circle Lake?
The biggest largemouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 7"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1993.
When was Circle Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Circle Lake in 2023, the most recent of 12 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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