Minnesota · Morrison County
Fish Trap Lake Fishing guide
Fish Trap Lake covers 1,164 acres in Morrison County, Minnesota, reaching 42 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 11.5 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 26 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 numbers4.3per gill net18"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 107 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 9 fish
2025Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 61 fish
2024Lengths measured · 15 fish
2023Lengths measured · 19 fish
2022Largemouth bassOne of the best around102.6per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 221 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 191 fish
2024Lengths measured · 30 fish
2021Lengths measured · 78 fish
2019Lengths measured · 10 fish
2018Northern pikeJust a few4.8per gill net23"Typical36"Biggest
Lengths measured · 116 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 37 fish
2024Lengths measured · 79 fish
2021Lengths measured · 312 fish
2019Lengths measured · 159 fish
2018Last recorded in the 2019 survey and not seen since.
BluegillPresent9.7per gill net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 233 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 103 fish
2024Lengths measured · 130 fish
2021Lengths measured · 502 fish
2019Lengths measured · 776 fish
2018CrappiePresent1.6per gill net11"Typical15"Biggest
Lengths measured · 54 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 28 fish
2024Lengths measured · 26 fish
2021Lengths measured · 528 fish
2019Lengths measured · 4 fish
2018Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Yellow perchExcellent numbers15.5per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 370 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 53 fish
2024Lengths measured · 317 fish
2021Lengths measured · 21 fish
2019Lengths measured · 92 fish
2018Rock bassExcellent numbers3.7per gill net7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 88 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 70 fish
2024Lengths measured · 18 fish
2021Lengths measured · 52 fish
2018Lengths measured · 34 fish
2014Rates 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 Trap 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. At 11.5 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. On a lake that drops to 42 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 11.5 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 42 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.
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 | — | 20" | — |
| 2024 | 17" | 28" | 11" |
| 2023 | — | 11" | — |
| 2022 | — | 18" | — |
| 2021 | 14" | 27" | — |
| 2020 | — | 22" | — |
| 2019 | 19" | 29" | — |
| 2018 | 15" | 26" | — |
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 · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
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
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 | 1,200,000 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 1,200,000 fry · 3,381 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 1,200,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 1,200,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 1,200,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 1,200,000 fry · 11,312 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 600,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 1,200,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 600,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Fish Trap Lake is a 1,164 acre lake located near Lincoln, Minnesota. The lake has 13.12 miles of shoreline, a maximum depth of 42 feet, and a littoral area of 404 acres. A state-owned public access is on the northwest portion of the lake. Primary management species include Northern Pike and Walleye. Secondary management species are Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Largemouth Bass. The lake was initially surveyed in 1957, and a total of 49 various surveys or assessments have been conducted on the lake with the most recent being a Targeted Survey assessing fall young of the year Walleye utilizing electrofishing in 2025.
Walleye management on Fish Trap Lake involves spring fry stocking of 3,000/littoral acre or 1,200,000 fry on an annual basis. Flexibility within the management plan allows fall fingerling stocking if fry stocking fails to create a population within management goals as defined by summer gill net catches. Summer surveys are completed every three years with the next survey scheduled for 2027. A decision to stock fingerling Walleyes was made in the fall of 2024 due to consecutive poor fall electrofishing surveys.
Read the full DNR narrative
Fall nighttime electrofishing targeting young of year Walleye to document natural reproduction or survival from fry stocking was initiated in 2004 and is done annually on Fish Trap Lake. Fall sampling was conducted on September 27th, 2025, to document survival from a spring Walleye stocking of 1,200,000 fry. Six stations scattered throughout the lake were sampled, totaling 2 hours of on time. A total of 0 young of the year Walleye were captured during sampling. Catch rates in prior fall EF assessments ranged from 0/hour to 177/hour on time. Recent fall EF surveys have been ineffective in sampling young of the year Walleye, with catch rates since 2017 ranged from 0/hour (N=3) to 9.13/hour (2023). A total catch of 9 adults Walleye averaged 14.1 inches were captured in 2025 for a catch rate of 4.5/hour.
Fall electrofishing catch rates show a fairly strong positive relationship with future year class strength identified in future gill net surveys. However, while fall electrofishing catch rates above 40/hour predict a good year class, significant year classes in gill net surveys were also identified in years with zero or low fall electrofishing catch rates.
Low catch rates in Fish Trap Lake appear to be associated with the introduction of Zebra Mussels or the recent increased abundance of Wild Celery in shallow water areas throughout the lake. In local lakes that are fry stocked or have natural reproduction, young of the year Walleye are typically found on bare sand or gravel substrates. In recent years Fish Trap Lake has had very little shallow habitat with bare hard substrates since Wild Celery has become abundant.
Other species commonly observed during the survey included Bluegill, Bowfin, Black Crappie, Common Shiner, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, White Sucker, and Yellow Perch. Other shiner species were also present.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Fish Trap Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Fish Trap 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 Trap Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Fish Trap Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Ham Lake · 42 ac · 1 mi
- Crookneck Lake · 191 ac · 2.3 mi
- Star Lake · 69 ac · 3.1 mi
- Shamineau Lake · 1,434 ac · 3.1 mi
- Alexander Lake · 2,709 ac · 3.4 mi
- Round Lake · 104 ac · 4.7 mi
- Stanchfield Lake · 116 ac · 5.4 mi
- Big Lake · 297 ac · 5.7 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Fish Trap Lake?
Fish Trap Lake reaches 42 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 20.5 ft; about 35% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Fish Trap Lake?
Fish Trap Lake covers 1,164 acres with about 13.1 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Fish Trap Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Fish Trap Lake average 11.5 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Fish Trap Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Fish Trap Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Fish Trap Lake have a public access?
Yes. Fish Trap Lake has one public access site: Fish Trap Lake (trailer launch).
How big do largemouth bass get in Fish Trap Lake?
The biggest largemouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 17"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2018.
When was Fish Trap Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Fish Trap Lake in 2025, the most recent of 26 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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