Minnesota · Ramsey County
East Vadnais Lake Fishing guide
East Vadnais Lake covers 393 acres in Ramsey County, Minnesota, reaching 58 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 7.3 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 9 times, most recently in 2014, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets. That survey is 12 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeExcellent numbers11.5per gill net17"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 45 fish
Recent · 2014Lengths measured · 45 fish
2014Lengths measured · 46 fish
2008Lengths measured · 101 fish
2001Lengths measured · 207 fish
1996Northern pikeGood numbers13.3per gill net22"Typical33"Biggest
Lengths measured · 55 fish
Recent · 2014Lengths measured · 55 fish
2014Lengths measured · 68 fish
2008Lengths measured · 93 fish
2001Lengths measured · 44 fish
1996BluegillFair numbers47.1per trap net5"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 504 fish
Recent · 2014Lengths measured · 504 fish
2014Lengths measured · 176 fish
2008Lengths measured · 154 fish
2001Lengths measured · 157 fish
1996No recent survey rating.
Rates 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 East Vadnais 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 58 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.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth.
- 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. On a lake that drops to 58 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
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 | Northern pike | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 27" | 33" | 8" |
| 2008 | 23" | 32" | 17" |
| 2001 | 26" | 25" | 15" |
| 1996 | 27" | 32" | 11" |
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
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Spinnerbait
3/8–1/2 oz safety-pin spinnerbait with tandem willow-leaf blades
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
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 2014 survey
East Vadnais Lake is an integral part of the St. Paul water system and falls within the boundaries of the Snail Lake Regional Park. The St. Paul Water Utility controls the access and surface use of all bodies of water within it. There is no surface use permitted on East Vadnais Lake, though shorefishing is allowed between 7AM and 10PM at the discretion of the St. Paul Water Utility. All angling is done from shore on the west side of the lake where there is an abundance of aquatic vegetation.
Walleyes and Northern Pike were abundant in this survey. Walleyes averaged 17 inches in total length and over 2 pounds for average weight. The average size of Northern Pike was over 22 inches. Other sought after species present were Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie and Bluegill. Bluegills were small in size and Black Crappies were captured in low abundance.
Other species present were Rock Bass, White Bass, Yellow Bullhead, Yellow Perch, Black Bullhead and Bowfin.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
East Vadnais Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on East Vadnais 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.
DNR bathymetry
East Vadnais Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- West Vadnais Lake · 212 ac · 0.6 mi
- Wabasso Lake · 43 ac · 1.4 mi
- Gervais Mill Pond · 6 ac · 2 mi
- Emily Lake · 13 ac · 2 mi
- Owasso Lake · 375 ac · 2.1 mi
- Island Lake · 59 ac · 2.2 mi
- Snail Lake · 158 ac · 2.3 mi
- Gervais Lake · 235 ac · 2.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is East Vadnais Lake?
East Vadnais Lake reaches 58 ft at its deepest point; about 35% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is East Vadnais Lake?
East Vadnais Lake covers 393 acres with about 4.9 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in East Vadnais Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on East Vadnais Lake average 7.3 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in East Vadnais Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2014) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass, channel catfish, white bass.
Is East Vadnais Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for East Vadnais Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
How big do walleye get in East Vadnais Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 27"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1996.
When was East Vadnais Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed East Vadnais Lake in 2014, the most recent of 9 surveys on record. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.
Page updated .
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