Minnesota · Cass County
Grave Lake Fishing guide
Grave Lake sits in Cass County, Minnesota, and covers 373 acres, reaching 55 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 18 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 9 times, most recently in 2021, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Fair numbers1.9per gill net16"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 18 fish
Recent · 2014Lengths measured · 31 fish
2020Lengths measured · 18 fish
2014Lengths measured · 12 fish
2009Lengths measured · 56 fish
2000BluegillFair numbers26.4per trap net4"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 238 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 238 fish
2021Lengths measured · 5 fish
2020Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 137 fish
2014Lengths measured · 329 fish
2009Rock bassExcellent numbers2.2per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 20 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 20 fish
2021Lengths measured · 20 fish
2020Lengths measured · 45 fish
2014Lengths measured · 44 fish
2009Rates 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 Grave Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 18 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 55 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.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. At 18 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 55 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.
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 | Largemouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | — | 9" | 27" |
| 2020 | 22" | 16" | 32" |
| 2014 | 19" | 14" | 35" |
| 2009 | 22" | 15" | 35" |
| 2000 | 21" | 14" | 29" |
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
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
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.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | 3,168 yearlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 2,945 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 2,068 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 2,121 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 4,615 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2021 survey
Grave Lake (DOW# 11-0086; Lake Class 23) is a 372-acre lake with located near Remer, MN. There is a DNR owned public access on the northeast shore. The lake has 132 littoral acres, 6.20 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 55 feet. The DNR has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical and other characteristics. Grave Lake is in Lake Class 23; lakes in this class are generally very clear, very deep, have a low percentage of shallow water area, and have very irregularly shaped shoreline with many bays or points. Other Lake Class 23 lakes in the Walker area include Hay, Horseshoe, Island, Mule, and Ponto lakes. The lake is primarily managed for Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike and secondarily for Bluegill, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, and Walleye.
The gill net component of this survey was completed in 2020 and due to Covid-19 restrictions the trap net portion could not be conducted until 2021. Bluegill were caught at moderate levels and lengths ranged from 3 to nearly 10 inches. There are no management goals for Bluegill but abundance was similar to past surveys and other similar lakes. No Black Crappie were sampled in this survey.
Read the full DNR narrative
Other fish sampled in this survey include Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rock Bass, and Yellow Perch.
People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Currently no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Grave Lake. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Grave Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Grave 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
- Grave Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Grave Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Lower Milton Lake · 79 ac · 1.6 mi
- Little Sand Lake · 413 ac · 2.5 mi
- Big Sand Lake · 731 ac · 4.2 mi
- Vermillion Lake · 410 ac · 5.5 mi
- Sugar Lake · 699 ac · 5.6 mi
- Swift Lake · 357 ac · 6.6 mi
- Mabel Lake · 184 ac · 8 mi
- No-ta-she-bun Lake · 239 ac · 8.4 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Grave Lake?
Grave Lake reaches 55 ft at its deepest point; about 35% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Grave Lake?
Grave Lake covers 373 acres with about 6.2 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Grave Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Grave Lake average 18 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Grave Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2021) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Grave Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Grave Lake have a public access?
Yes. Grave Lake has one public access site: Grave Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Grave Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 19"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2000.
When was Grave Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Grave Lake in 2021, the most recent of 9 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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