Minnesota · Cook County
Gaskin Lake Fishing guide
Gaskin Lake is a 372-acre lake in Cook County, Minnesota, reaching 82 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 9.4 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 4 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeFair numbers2.5per gill net16"Typical20"Biggest
Lengths measured · 10 fish
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 Gaskin 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 82 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.
- 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 82 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.
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 · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
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 2024 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected in the deepest basin in Gaskin Lake on August 21, 2024, 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 (Lake Whitefish and Cisco also present). During the summer, 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 the profile from the deepest basin, the water temperature dropped below 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) at 36.1 feet, and the dissolved oxygen concentration never decreased to below 3.0 mg/L at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 19.7 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present for Lake Trout.
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 the dissolved oxygen remained above 3.0 mg/L throughout the sampled depths. The temperature at the bottom of the lake was 7.1 degrees C (44.8 degrees F). Instances in which the dissolved oxygen does not reach below 3.0 mg/L and temperature remains below 8.8 degrees C, 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 from 1990-2023 during the late summer thermal stress period indicated suitable oxythermal habitat in years surveyed, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2012 when the suitable habitat layer thickness was 6.3 feet. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is 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
Gaskin Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Gaskin 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
- US Forest Service access (permit required)
DNR bathymetry
Gaskin Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Winchell Lake · 876 ac · 2.8 mi
- Prune Lake · 9 ac · 2.9 mi
- Lizz Lake · 23 ac · 2.9 mi
- Poplar Lake · 764 ac · 3.4 mi
- Misquah Lake · 52 ac · 3.5 mi
- Swan Lake · 199 ac · 3.6 mi
- Swamp Lake · 181 ac · 3.7 mi
- Little Trout Lake · 127 ac · 4.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Gaskin Lake?
Gaskin Lake reaches 82 ft at its deepest point; about 28% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Gaskin Lake?
Gaskin Lake covers 372 acres with about 12.9 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Gaskin Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Gaskin Lake average 9.4 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Gaskin Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike.
Is Gaskin Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Gaskin Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Gaskin Lake have a public access?
Yes. Gaskin Lake has one public access site: US Forest Service access.
How big do walleye get in Gaskin Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 20".
When was Gaskin Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Gaskin Lake in 2024, the most recent of 4 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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