Minnesota · St. Louis County
Crane Lake Fishing guide
Crane Lake is a 2,921-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota, reaching 80 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 8.2 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 17 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeOne of the best around17.7per gill net12"Typical23"Biggest
Lengths measured · 223 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 223 fish
2021Lengths measured · 128 fish
2016Lengths measured · 151 fish
2011Lengths measured · 141 fish
2006No recent survey rating.
Smallmouth bassGood numbers26.5per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 51 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 51 fish
2021Lengths measured · 60 fish
2016Lengths measured · 93 fish
2006Lengths measured · 74 fish
2002Northern pikeJust a few1.8per gill net25"Typical33"Biggest
Lengths measured · 26 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 26 fish
2021Lengths measured · 28 fish
2016Lengths measured · 34 fish
2011Lengths measured · 32 fish
2006Present in recent DNR surveys.
CrappieJust a few1.3per trap net11"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 19 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 19 fish
2021Lengths measured · 42 fish
2016Lengths measured · 19 fish
2011Lengths measured · 2 fish
2006Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Yellow perchExcellent numbers13.2per gill net7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 167 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 167 fish
2021Lengths measured · 126 fish
2016Lengths measured · 103 fish
2011Lengths measured · 104 fish
2006Last recorded in the 1991 survey and not seen since.
Last recorded in the 2002 survey and not seen since.
Rock bassExcellent numbers1.5per trap net7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 33 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 33 fish
2021Lengths measured · 18 fish
2016Lengths measured · 7 fish
2011Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 8 fish
2006Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
SaugerPresent3per gill net11"Typical15"Biggest
Lengths measured · 37 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 37 fish
2021Lengths measured · 32 fish
2016Lengths measured · 26 fish
2011Lengths measured · 28 fish
2006Rates 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 Crane 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. On a lake that drops to 80 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.
Smallmouth bass
- Spring
- Smallmouth are on shallow rock, gravel and sand where they spawn.
- Early summer
- Smallmouth are post-spawn on rock points, gravel bars and the adjacent breaks.
- Summer
- Smallmouth are on rock humps, points and hard-bottom breaks. On a lake that drops to 80 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Smallmouth are bunched tight on deep rock, so find one and you have found the school.
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 | Smallmouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 23" | 19" | 33" |
| 2016 | 24" | 19" | 36" |
| 2011 | 21" | — | 33" |
| 2006 | 26" | 20" | 37" |
| 2002 | 22" | 18" | 43" |
| 1999 | 24" | 17" | 39" |
| 1996 | 27" | 15" | 35" |
| 1994 | 19" | 2" | 34" |
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
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Smallmouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Tail Spinner
Compact lead body with a free-spinning blade on the tail
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
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 2025 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Crane Lake on August 20th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Whitefish, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake (Cisco, also known as 'Tullibee', are also present). 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 72.2 feet), the water temperature decreased below 17.2 degrees C (63.0 degrees F) at 25.5 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 21.1 feet at the time of sampling. Therefore, the water column did not contain a layer of water with sufficient temperature and dissolved oxygen for Lake Whitefish.
Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 20.3 degrees C (68.5 degrees F). TDO3 values warmer than 17.2 degrees C (63.0 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were unsuitable for Lake Whitefish at the time of the survey.
Read the full DNR narrative
This is the first Minnesota Department of Natural Resources temperature and dissolved oxygen survey completed on Crane Lake during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th). Three surveys just outside the late summer period in late August 2006, 2011, and 2021 also indicated marginal or unsuitable habitat for Lake Whitefish. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Lake Whitefish are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Crane Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Crane 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
- Crane Lake (E) (trailer launch)
- Crane Lake (W) (trailer launch)
- Crane Lake, Bayside (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Crane Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Dovre Lake · 116 ac · 2.7 mi
- Little Vermilion Lake · 1,288 ac · 3.2 mi
- Mukooda Lake · 774 ac · 3.3 mi
- Sand Point Lake · 8,527 ac · 6.1 mi
- Franklin Lake · 156 ac · 6.1 mi
- Johnson Lake · 1,737 ac · 6.6 mi
- Little Trout Lake · 272 ac · 7.5 mi
- Echo Lake · 1,142 ac · 7.8 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Crane Lake?
Crane Lake reaches 80 ft at its deepest point; about 21% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Crane Lake?
Crane Lake covers 2,921 acres with about 34 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Crane Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Crane Lake average 8.2 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Crane Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, lake trout, lake sturgeon, rock bass, sauger.
Is Crane Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Crane Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Crane Lake have a public access?
Yes. Crane Lake has 3 public access sites, including Crane Lake (E) (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Crane Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 23"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Crane Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Crane Lake in 2025, the most recent of 17 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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