Minnesota · St. Louis County
Eagles Nest #1 Lake Fishing guide
Eagles Nest #1 Lake covers 324 acres in St. Louis County, Minnesota, reaching 76 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 17.3 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 7 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Good numbers4.4per gill net16"Typical22"Biggest
Lengths measured · 23 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 23 fish
2025Lengths measured · 78 fish
2020Lengths measured · 20 fish
2015Lengths measured · 81 fish
2010Smallmouth bassFair numbers16.9per hr (electrofishing)14"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 35 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 35 fish
2025Lengths measured · 33 fish
2020Lengths measured · 53 fish
2015Lengths measured · 19 fish
2010Northern pikeJust a few2per gill net18"Typical38"Biggest
Lengths measured · 16 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 16 fish
2025Lengths measured · 6 fish
2020Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 4 fish
2015Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 11 fish
2010BluegillJust a few15.8per trap net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 97 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 97 fish
2025Lengths measured · 76 fish
2020Lengths measured · 125 fish
2015Lengths measured · 493 fish
2010Yellow perchGood numbers4.6per gill net3"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 86 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 86 fish
2025Lengths measured · 53 fish
2020Lengths measured · 15 fish
2015Lengths measured · 4 fish
2010Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Rock bassOne of the best around3per trap net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 19 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 19 fish
2025Lengths measured · 41 fish
2020Lengths measured · 17 fish
2015Lengths measured · 49 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 Eagles Nest #1 Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 17.3 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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 76 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. At 17.3 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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 76 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 | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22" | 19" | 15" |
| 2020 | 22" | 19" | 18" |
| 2015 | 22" | 19" | 18" |
| 2010 | 26" | 15" | — |
| 2005 | 29" | 18" | 13" |
| 2000 | 26" | 19" | 16" |
| 1995 | 28" | 15" | 7" |
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
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
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 | 3,608 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 5,280 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 5,790 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 5,632 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 4,576 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Eagles Nest 1 (69-0285-01) is a 324-acre lake located 8 miles east of Tower. It is accessed by a water access channel that connects with Eagles Nest 2, which has a concrete ramp and ample parking for a few trailers. The lake has a maximum depth of 76 feet and generally clear water. Compared to other lakes in the area, Eagles Nest 1 is relatively developed with year-round and seasonal homes. Lake bottom substrates along the shoreline are mostly rubble, gravel, and sand with some muck in the bays. Aquatic vegetation is sparse due to a rusty crayfish infestation.
On July 28, 2025 the lake was thermally stratified with a surface temperature of 75 degrees F and a bottom temperature of 41 degrees F. Oxygen levels were adequate for gamefish from the surface to around 50 feet of water.
Read the full DNR narrative
Eagles Nest 1 is currently being stocked with fingerling walleye every other year. Since there is no public access ramp on Eagles Nest 1, the quota of fingerlings is added to the quota for Eagles Nest 2 and the fish are stocked at the Eagles Nest 2 access under the assumption that the fingerlings swim freely between the lakes.
As in the past, Eagles Nest 1 was sampled concurrently the Eagles Nest 2. A total of nine gill nets, four small mesh gill nets, and twelve trap nets were set between the two lakes.
Twenty-two walleye were sampled in gill nets for a catch rate of 4.4 fish/net, which was just below average when compared to other similar lakes in the area, but on par with past up-and-down survey catch rates we've observed on Eagles Nest 1. Sizes were quite good with fish up to 22 inches sampled and an overall size average of 17 inches and nearly 2 pounds. Growth is also quite good due to sometimes ample smelt and rusty crayfish populations. The walleyes in this survey were already 14.6 inches on average as 4-year-old fish. Overall, ages ranged from 2 to 9 years with good representation from the 2019 year-class. Stocking appears to be carrying the walleye fishery with over 90% of the fish sampled having come from a stocked year class.
Spring night electrofishing was used for the third time on Eagles Nest 1 for smallmouth and largemouth bass sampling. On the night of May 27th, three electrofishing stations were sampled and the crew caught twenty bass, which was similar to past electrofishing efforts on the lake.
Although largemouth are prevalent in the lake as witnessed by angling success, only three largemouth bass were captured during the electrofishing survey. All three fish were between 13 and 15 inches. Electrofishing for smallmouth was a bit more successful with 17 fish captured. Sizes were good with fish over 19 inches sampled and an overall average length of around 11 inches. Seventeen additional smallmouth were sampled in gill nets which was a very high catch rate when compared to other smallmouth lakes. Fish up to 19 inches were sampled in this gear type as well. Growth was also exceptional with 4-year-old fish averaging nearly 12 inches.
The northern pike population in Eagles Nest 1 remains fairly stable at relatively low numbers compared to other lakes in the area. Some fish attain decent sizes, with the largest fish from this survey measuring nearly 39 inches.
Since the lake became infested with rusty crayfish, the aquatic vegetation declined from being abundant in many of the bays to being sparse across the lake. This has caused an overall loss of high-quality habitat for bluegill which has coincided with their catch rates dropping over time. The trapnet catch in 2025 of 15.8 fish/net was still better than other similar lakes, however it was quite a bit lower when compared to surveys prior to the end of the 2000's. Sizes however have remained relatively unchanged with fish over 8 inches sampled in this survey, and an overall average length of just over 5 inches. Ages ranged from 3 to 7 years old with most fish age-5 and under.
Rainbow smelt are a non-native invasive fish that were first caught in DNR nets in 1980. Every assessment, starting in 1980, included small mesh gill nets. The 2025 survey caught no rainbow smelt for the second time in the last three surveys although they can still be observed in the water column when using electronics.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Eagles Nest #1 Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Eagles Nest #1 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
- County access: Water access at east end of Eagles Nest 2 through narrows into Eagles Nest 1. Public access boat ramp is on Eagles Nest 2 approximately 2 miles south of State Hwy. 1/169 on County Rd. #599. Parking for 3 - 4 vehicles with tight turnaround.
DNR bathymetry
Eagles Nest #1 Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Pickerel Lake · 40 ac · 0.8 mi
- Eagles Nest #3 Lake · 1,028 ac · 1.2 mi
- Eagles Nest #2 Lake · 388 ac · 1.3 mi
- Six Mile Lake · 109 ac · 1.6 mi
- Armstrong Lake · 382 ac · 1.7 mi
- Eagles Nest No. Four Lake · 178 ac · 2 mi
- Little Armstrong Lake · 70 ac · 2.1 mi
- Skeleton Lake · 63 ac · 2.3 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Eagles Nest #1 Lake?
Eagles Nest #1 Lake reaches 76 ft at its deepest point; about 27% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Eagles Nest #1 Lake?
Eagles Nest #1 Lake covers 324 acres with about 5.2 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Eagles Nest #1 Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Eagles Nest #1 Lake average 17.3 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Eagles Nest #1 Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Eagles Nest #1 Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Eagles Nest #1 Lake have a public access?
Yes. Eagles Nest #1 Lake has one public access site: County access (Water access at east end of Eagles Nest 2 through narrows into Eagles Nest 1. Public access boat ramp is on Eagles Nest 2 approximately 2 miles south of State Hwy. 1/169 on County Rd. #599. Parking for 3 - 4 vehicles with tight turnaround.).
How big do walleye get in Eagles Nest #1 Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 22"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1995.
When was Eagles Nest #1 Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Eagles Nest #1 Lake in 2025, the most recent of 7 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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