Minnesota · Kanabec County
Fish Lake Fishing guide
Fish Lake is a 506-acre lake in Kanabec County, Minnesota, reaching 8 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 1.5 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 14 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Largemouth bassFair numbers42.3per hr (electrofishing)10"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 43 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 43 fish
2025Lengths measured · 41 fish
2012Lengths measured · 30 fish
2007Lengths measured · 22 fish
2002Northern pikeJust a few2.5per gill net24"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 16 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 16 fish
2025Lengths measured · 41 fish
2017Lengths measured · 72 fish
2012Lengths measured · 53 fish
2007BluegillJust a few8.6per trap net7"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 84 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 84 fish
2025Lengths measured · 111 fish
2017Lengths measured · 147 fish
2012Lengths measured · 153 fish
2007CrappieJust a few1.3per trap net9"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 84 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 84 fish
2025Lengths measured · 72 fish
2017Lengths measured · 128 fish
2012Lengths measured · 382 fish
2007Yellow perchGood numbers5per gill net8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 33 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 33 fish
2025Lengths measured · 48 fish
2017Lengths measured · 92 fish
2012Lengths measured · 16 fish
2007Channel catfishExcellent numbers1per trap net24"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 21 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 21 fish
2025Lengths measured · 28 fish
2017Lengths measured · 15 fish
2012Lengths measured · 8 fish
2007Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
No 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 Fish Lake through the year
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. In 1.5 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. With 99% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze. A 8-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 1.5 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. With 99% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows. A 8-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
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 | Largemouth bass | Walleye | Smallmouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18" | 26" | 16" |
| 2024 | — | 14" | — |
| 2023 | — | 6" | — |
| 2017 | — | 25" | — |
| 2012 | 20" | 26" | — |
| 2007 | 20" | 28" | — |
| 2002 | 19" | 29" | — |
| 1997 | 15" | 27" | — |
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:
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Skirted Casting Jig + Craw Trailer
3.5–4" craw-style trailer on a skirted casting/flipping jig
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Smallmouth bass · Hardbaits
Walk-the-Dog Topwater
4–4.5" walk-the-dog topwater
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Ned Rig
2.75" finesse stickbait or craw-style Ned 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 | 251,500 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 316,907 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 502,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 502,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 502,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 502,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A targeted survey of the nearshore fish community was conducted by Hinckley fisheries staff on Fish Lake on July 7, 2025. Nearshore sampling captured 22 species of fish: Black Crappie, Bluegill, Brook Silverside, Central Mudminnow, Common Carp, Fathead Minnow, Golden Shiner, Greater Redhorse, Iowa Darter, Johnny Darter, Largemouth Bass, Log Perch, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, Shorthead Redhorse, Smallmouth Bass, Spottail Shiner, Tadpole Madtom, Trout Perch, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead, and Yellow Perch.
The nearshore survey data is combined with standard gill and trap netting survey data from previous Fish Lake surveys to calculate a Fish IBI (FIBI) score and helps assess aquatic life in Fish Lake. The FIBI score for Fish Lake based on this survey is above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes.
This survey is contributing to a watershed assessment process in coordination with the MN Pollution Control Agency. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Fish Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Fish 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
- Fish Lake (N) (trailer launch)
- Fish Lake (S) (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Fish Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Devils Lake · 59 ac · 1.6 mi
- Lewis Lake · 179 ac · 6.4 mi
- Ann Lake · 654 ac · 7.1 mi
- Quamba Lake · 226 ac · 8.1 mi
- Lory Lake · 222 ac · 8.1 mi
- Knife Lake · 1,259 ac · 9.7 mi
- Seventeen Lake · 32 ac · 10.3 mi
- Pokegama Lake · 1,522 ac · 13.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Fish Lake?
Fish Lake reaches 8 ft at its deepest point; about 99% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Fish Lake?
Fish Lake covers 506 acres with about 10 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Fish Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Fish Lake average 1.5 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Fish Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish, white bass.
Is Fish Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Fish Lake have a public access?
Yes. Fish Lake has 2 public access sites, including Fish Lake (N) (trailer launch).
How big do largemouth bass get in Fish Lake?
The biggest largemouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 18"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1997.
When was Fish Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Fish Lake in 2025, the most recent of 14 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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