Minnesota · Crow Wing County
Eagle Lake Fishing guide
Eagle Lake is a 350-acre lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, reaching 36 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 10.3 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 11 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Largemouth bassFair numbers35.8per hr (electrofishing)14"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 56 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 56 fish
2021Lengths measured · 45 fish
2015Lengths measured · 98 fish
2009Lengths measured · 253 fish
2003Northern pikeGood numbers13.8per gill net21"Typical34"Biggest
Lengths measured · 127 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 127 fish
2021Lengths measured · 90 fish
2015Lengths measured · 64 fish
2009Lengths measured · 122 fish
2003BluegillJust a few16.2per trap net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 238 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 238 fish
2021Lengths measured · 116 fish
2015Lengths measured · 162 fish
2009Lengths measured · 426 fish
2003CrappieJust a few0.2per trap net8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 66 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 66 fish
2021Lengths measured · 25 fish
2015Lengths measured · 21 fish
2009Lengths measured · 51 fish
2003Yellow perchFair numbers3.9per gill net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 46 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 46 fish
2021Lengths measured · 18 fish
2015Lengths measured · 25 fish
2009Lengths measured · 147 fish
2003Rock bassGood numbers0.6per seine haul5"Typical6"Biggest
Lengths measured · 10 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 10 fish
2021Lengths measured · 1 fish
2015Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 2 fish
2009Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 15 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
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 10.3 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. At 10.3 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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 | Northern pike | Largemouth bass | Walleye |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 34" | 19" | 15" |
| 2015 | 37" | 18" | 23" |
| 2009 | 35" | 18" | 21" |
| 2003 | 34" | 19" | — |
| 1995 | 34" | 12" | 25" |
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 · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
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
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 2024 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles were collected in the deepest basin in Eagle Lake on August 1, 2024, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin, the water temperature decreased to below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 14.0 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 12.7 feet at the time of sampling. The water column did not contain a layer of water with sufficient temperature and dissolved oxygen for Cisco.
Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 22.9 degrees C (73.2 degrees F). TDO3 values warmer than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were unsuitable for Cisco at the time of this survey.
Read the full DNR narrative
Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in 2022 and 2023 during the late summer thermal stress period indicate marginal oxythermal habitat, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2024. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
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
- Butterfield Lake · 194 ac · 1.3 mi
- East Fox Lake · 241 ac · 1.4 mi
- Mitchell Lake · 429 ac · 1.5 mi
- Kego Lake · 296 ac · 1.9 mi
- West Fox Lake · 449 ac · 2.1 mi
- Blue Lake · 177 ac · 2.8 mi
- Pickerel Lake · 117 ac · 3.3 mi
- Allen Lake · 45 ac · 3.7 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Eagle Lake?
Eagle Lake reaches 36 ft at its deepest point; about 54% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Eagle Lake?
Eagle Lake covers 350 acres with about 6 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Eagle Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Eagle Lake average 10.3 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Eagle Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth 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 northern pike get in Eagle Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 34"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1995.
When was Eagle Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Eagle Lake in 2024, the most recent of 11 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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