Minnesota · Carlton County
Eagle Lake Fishing guide
Eagle Lake covers 389 acres in Carlton County, Minnesota, reaching 35 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 8.2 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 15 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeGood numbers5.1per gill net16"Typical23"Biggest
Lengths measured · 47 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 2 fish
2025Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 5 fish
2024Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 47 fish
2024Lengths measured · 15 fish
2023Largemouth bassJust a few4.8per hr (electrofishing)14"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 10 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 10 fish
2024Lengths measured · 11 fish
2016Lengths measured · 25 fish
2008Northern pikeJust a few1.7per gill net23"Typical29"Biggest
Lengths measured · 26 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 26 fish
2024Lengths measured · 23 fish
2016Lengths measured · 44 fish
2008Lengths measured · 31 fish
2003BluegillJust a few6.3per trap net5"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 80 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 80 fish
2024Lengths measured · 101 fish
2016Lengths measured · 425 fish
2008Lengths measured · 52 fish
2003CrappieJust a few1.1per trap net10"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 33 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 33 fish
2024Lengths measured · 68 fish
2016Lengths measured · 2 fish
2008Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 1 fish
2003Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Yellow perchGood numbers10.4per gill net6"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 122 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 122 fish
2024Lengths measured · 549 fish
2016Lengths measured · 888 fish
2008Lengths measured · 719 fish
2003Rock bassGood numbers1per trap net5"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 13 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 13 fish
2024Lengths measured · 16 fish
2016Lengths measured · 22 fish
2008Lengths measured · 10 fish
2003Rates 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 Eagle 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.
- 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.
- 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 | 8" | — | — |
| 2024 | 23" | 17" | 29" |
| 2023 | 13" | — | — |
| 2021 | 10" | — | — |
| 2020 | 8" | — | — |
| 2017 | 9" | — | — |
| 2016 | 22" | 18" | 30" |
| 2008 | 24" | 17" | 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 · 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
Eagle Lake is a 389-acre waterbody located 3 miles south of Cromwell, Minnesota, in the Mississippi River Watershed. The lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet and has a habitat best suited for Black Crappie, Walleye, and Yellow Perch. A state-owned public access is located at the northeast end of the lake.
The 2003 Lake Management Plan (LMP) identifies Walleye as the primary management species. Walleye have not been stocked in Eagle Lake since 1955 due to adequate natural reproduction. The LMP goals for Walleye are to maintain moderate gill net catch rates (greater than 5.8 fish per lift) with Walleye over 15 inches present. Anglers can help achieve this goal through selective harvest and proper catch-and-release techniques.
Read the full DNR narrative
To help estimate spawning success and evaluate future year-class strength, a fall young-of-the-year (YOY) Walleye electrofishing assessment was conducted on Eagle Lake in September 2025. This survey provides updated information on the abundance and average length of Walleye from the 2024 and 2025 year classes.
Zero YOY Walleye were sampled for a catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) of 0.0 per hour of electrofishing on time. Catch rates from previous investigations ranged from 0.0 to 57.7 per hour, with an average catch rate of 11.9 per hour. The average size of YOY Walleye from previous investigations ranged from 5.1 to 6.9 inches. The absence of YOY Walleye suggests a below-average 2025 year-class is possible.
Two age-1 Walleye were sampled for a catch rate of 1.6 per hour of electrofishing. Catch rates for age-1 Walleye from previous investigations ranged from 0.0 to 39.3 per hour, with an average of 9.4 per hour. Length of age-1 Walleye was close to average at 8.6 inches. Prior average lengths have ranged from 8.3 to 11.2 inches with a cumulative average length of 9.3 inches. The low abundance of age-1 Walleye sampled in 2025 suggests the 2024 year-class could be below average.
Although YOY and age-1 catch rates were below historical averages, other strong walleye year classes have occurred in Eagle Lake, and these year classes will dominate anglers' catch. As a result, Walleye angling on Eagle Lake is expected to be fair, with opportunities to catch quality fish, with more than 10 year-classes represented during the last standard survey in 2024.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Eagle Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Eagle 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
- Eagle Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Eagle Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Lower (South) Island Lake · 320 ac · 2.6 mi
- Upper (North) Island Lake · 114 ac · 3.5 mi
- Tamarack Lake · 235 ac · 3.7 mi
- Cross Lake · 107 ac · 5.7 mi
- Cole Lake · 142 ac · 5.9 mi
- Springer Lake · 8 ac · 6 mi
- Blackwood Lake · 34 ac · 9.5 mi
- Prairie Lake · 794 ac · 10.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Eagle Lake?
Eagle Lake reaches 35 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 23 ft; about 29% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Eagle Lake?
Eagle Lake covers 389 acres with about 5.3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Eagle Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Eagle Lake average 8.2 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Eagle Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Eagle Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Eagle Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Eagle Lake have a public access?
Yes. Eagle Lake has one public access site: Eagle Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Eagle 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 2008.
When was Eagle Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Eagle Lake in 2025, the most recent of 15 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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