Minnesota · Cook County
Flour Lake Fishing guide
Flour Lake covers 330 acres in Cook County, Minnesota, reaching 75 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 15.4 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 14 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike and yellow perch in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Fair numbers3.2per gill net16"Typical29"Biggest
Lengths measured · 36 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 36 fish
2023Lengths measured · 13 fish
2016Lengths measured · 15 fish
2008Lengths measured · 7 fish
2004Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Smallmouth bassPresent3.8per gill net11"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 34 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 34 fish
2023Lengths measured · 22 fish
2016Lengths measured · 6 fish
2008Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 11 fish
2004Yellow perchJust a few0.7per gill net2"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 59 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 59 fish
2023Lengths measured · 56 fish
2016Lengths measured · 21 fish
2008Lengths measured · 8 fish
2004Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Present and managed by the DNR. Standard survey gear does not count this species reliably.
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 Flour Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 15.4 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 75 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 15.4 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 75 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 | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 29" | 17" | 35" |
| 2016 | 26" | 15" | 34" |
| 2008 | 26" | 16" | 26" |
| 2004 | 26" | 17" | — |
| 2001 | 22" | 16" | — |
| 1997 | 24" | 14" | 37" |
| 1994 | 26" | 14" | 36" |
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
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Trolling
Muskie Trolling (big cranks)
8–10" large diving crankbait rated for the target depth
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | 3,450 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 1,496 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 2,058 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Lake Trout | 3,410 yearlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 1,821 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Lake Trout | 4,279 yearlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 3,767 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Flour Lake on August 13th, 2025. This was done to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Trout, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake (Cisco, also known as 'Tullibee', are also present). Lake Trout require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on data collected from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth was 68.9 feet), the water temperature decreased to 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) at 34.1 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 68.6 feet at the time of sampling. This layer in the water column was 34.5 feet, indicating oxythermal habitat for Lake Trout was present.
Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 7.3 degrees C (45.1 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Lake Trout at the time of the survey. It is possible Lake Trout still persist in low numbers in the lake, but none were found in the previous survey.
Read the full DNR narrative
Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 4 years, between 1956-2023, indicated suitable oxythermal habitat in most years surveyed. There did not appear to be any suitable habitat found in the 1956 survey. When adequate oxythermal habitat is not available, Lake Trout are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Flour Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Flour 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
- Flour Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Flour Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Rudy Lake · 41 ac · 0.4 mi
- Ruby Lake · 15 ac · 0.5 mi
- Wampus Lake · 30 ac · 1.1 mi
- East Bearskin Lake · 593 ac · 1.2 mi
- Aspen Lake · 141 ac · 1.4 mi
- Daniels Lake · 509 ac · 2.2 mi
- Bearskin Lake · 509 ac · 2.3 mi
- Hungry Jack Lake · 474 ac · 2.3 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Flour Lake?
Flour Lake reaches 75 ft at its deepest point; about 35% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Flour Lake?
Flour Lake covers 330 acres with about 8.5 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Flour Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Flour Lake average 15.4 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Flour Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, lake trout.
Is Flour Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Flour Lake have a public access?
Yes. Flour Lake has one public access site: Flour Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Flour Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 29"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Flour Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Flour Lake in 2025, the most recent of 14 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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