Minnesota · Lake County
Fraser Lake Fishing guide
Fraser Lake covers 695 acres in Lake County, Minnesota, reaching 105 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 11 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 3 times, most recently in 2025, with northern pike and lake trout in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
No recent survey rating.
Last recorded in the 1986 survey and not seen since.
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 Fraser Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 11 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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 105 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.
Lake trout
- Spring
- Lake trout are spread over the deep breaks and humps, still using the whole water column. At 11 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Lake trout are dropping fast down the humps toward the cold layer as the lake stratifies.
- Summer
- Lake trout are deep on the humps and sharp breaks, below the thermocline in the coldest water they can find. On a lake that drops to 105 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Lake trout are back up onto shallow rock, the humps and reefs where they spawn.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Lake trout · Trolling
Trout Trolling (spoons/cowbells)
2–3in trolling spoon behind a small cowbell/dodger string
Lake trout · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
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 2025 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Fraser Lake on August 3rd, 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 101.0 feet), the water temperature decreased to 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) at 30.3 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration stayed greater than 3.0 mg/L for the entire sampled depth. This layer in the water column was 70.7 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 never reached because dissolved oxygen remained above 3.0 mg/L throughout the sampled depths. In this case, the minimum temperature, 5.3 degrees C (41.5 degrees F), was substituted as TDO3. 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.
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 2024 also indicated suitable oxythermal habitat. 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
Fraser Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Fraser 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
- Public access: ACCESS BY USFS PORTAGES FROM GERRUND ~55 YARDS~AND SHEPO LAKES ~66 YARDS~ AND BY WATER ROUTE
DNR bathymetry
Fraser Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Ahmakose Lake · 43 ac · 1.2 mi
- Thomas Lake · 1,465 ac · 2.6 mi
- Raven Lake · 179 ac · 3 mi
- Adams Lake · 475 ac · 3.3 mi
- Ima Lake · 742 ac · 3.8 mi
- Kekekabic Lake · 1,689 ac · 3.8 mi
- Amber Lake · 121 ac · 4.1 mi
- Alice Lake · 1,469 ac · 4.7 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Fraser Lake?
Fraser Lake reaches 105 ft at its deepest point; about 23% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Fraser Lake?
Fraser Lake covers 695 acres with about 14.6 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Fraser Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Fraser Lake average 11 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Fraser Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record northern pike, lake trout.
Is Fraser Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Fraser Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Fraser Lake have a public access?
Yes. Fraser Lake has one public access site: Public access (ACCESS BY USFS PORTAGES FROM GERRUND ~55 YARDS~AND SHEPO LAKES ~66 YARDS~ AND BY WATER ROUTE).
When was Fraser Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Fraser Lake in 2025, the most recent of 3 surveys on record.
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