Minnesota · Crow Wing County
Crow Wing Lake Fishing guide
Crow Wing Lake is a 379-acre lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, reaching 26 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 3.5 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 10 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers2.7per gill net17"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 63 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 17 fish
2025Lengths measured · 46 fish
2022Lengths measured · 107 fish
2016Lengths measured · 79 fish
2010Largemouth bassFair numbers23.1per hr (electrofishing)14"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 49 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 6 fish
2025Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 43 fish
2022Lengths measured · 87 fish
2016Lengths measured · 154 fish
2010Northern pikeJust a few3per gill net21"Typical35"Biggest
Lengths measured · 40 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 9 fish
2025Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 31 fish
2022Lengths measured · 24 fish
2016Lengths measured · 126 fish
2010BluegillJust a few12.3per trap net4"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 228 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 177 fish
2025Lengths measured · 51 fish
2022Lengths measured · 232 fish
2016Lengths measured · 474 fish
2010CrappieJust a few1.3per trap net5"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 231 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 6 fish
2025Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 225 fish
2022Lengths measured · 654 fish
2016Lengths measured · 106 fish
2010Yellow perchGood numbers11.8per gill net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 119 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 5 fish
2025Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 114 fish
2022Lengths measured · 17 fish
2016Lengths measured · 117 fish
2010Rates 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 Crow Wing Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 3.5 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.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. In 3.5 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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.
- 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 | 25" | 18" | 35" |
| 2022 | 28" | 18" | 31" |
| 2016 | 28" | 20" | 30" |
| 2010 | 29" | 18" | 28" |
| 2004 | 27" | 20" | 31" |
| 1999 | 28" | 18" | 29" |
| 1994 | 25" | 15" | 29" |
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
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
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.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 200,000 fry · 630 fingerlings · 283 adults |
| 2023 | Walleye | 3,260 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 3,838 fingerlings · 175 adults |
| 2019 | Walleye | 200,000 fry · 5,250 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 160 fingerlings · 769 yearlings · 5 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Crow Wing Lake was conducted on September 2-3, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at ten sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample eight stations. Two stations were not sampled due to soft substrate and dense vegetation. Nearshore sampling captured seventeen species of fish, including three species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass) and none that are tolerant of disturbance.
A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by LBMA program staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured twelve species of fish, including one species that is intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Rock Bass) and none that were tolerant of disturbance. Bluegill and Pumpkinseed comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Walleye, Yellow Bullhead, and Bluegill comprised a majority by biomass.
Read the full DNR narrative
The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from an August 2022 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based index of biological integrity (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish and Common Carp). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Mississippi River - Brainerd Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Crow Wing Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Crow Wing Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Crow Wing 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
- Crow Wing Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Crow Wing Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Hardy Lake · 105 ac · 4.3 mi
- Sebie Lake · 185 ac · 4.6 mi
- Sylvan Lake · 322 ac · 5.7 mi
- Perch Lake · 266 ac · 8.1 mi
- White Sand Lake · 415 ac · 8.4 mi
- Whipple Lake · 301 ac · 8.8 mi
- Round Lake · 127 ac · 8.8 mi
- Round Lake · 104 ac · 9.3 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Crow Wing Lake?
Crow Wing Lake reaches 26 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 11 ft; about 55% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Crow Wing Lake?
Crow Wing Lake covers 379 acres with about 3.9 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Crow Wing Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Crow Wing Lake average 3.5 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Crow Wing Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Crow Wing Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Crow Wing Lake have a public access?
Yes. Crow Wing Lake has one public access site: Crow Wing Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Crow Wing 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 1994.
When was Crow Wing Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Crow Wing Lake in 2025, the most recent of 10 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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