Minnesota · Lake County
Greenwood Lake Fishing guide
Greenwood Lake covers 1,329 acres in Lake County, Minnesota, reaching 7 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 2.8 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 9 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, northern pike, bluegill and yellow perch in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeOne of the best around12.8per gill net11"Typical20"Biggest
Lengths measured · 135 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 135 fish
2025Lengths measured · 136 fish
2019Lengths measured · 258 fish
2009Lengths measured · 194 fish
2000Northern pikeJust a few3.6per gill net16"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 42 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 42 fish
2025Lengths measured · 44 fish
2019Lengths measured · 72 fish
2009Lengths measured · 97 fish
2000Yellow perchGood numbers4.5per gill net7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 57 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 57 fish
2025Lengths measured · 162 fish
2019Lengths measured · 20243 fish
2009Lengths measured · 1633 fish
2000No recent survey rating.
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 Greenwood Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 2.8 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows. A 7-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. In 2.8 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops. A 7-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
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 | Northern pike | Yellow perch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20" | 27" | 10" |
| 2019 | 27" | 30" | 10" |
| 2009 | 23" | 32" | 11" |
| 2000 | 22" | 31" | 12" |
| 1994 | 27" | 26" | 10" |
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 · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Spinnerbait
3/8–1/2 oz safety-pin spinnerbait with tandem willow-leaf blades
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
Yellow perch · Live bait
Clip-On Bobber + Worm
half to whole garden nightcrawler
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Tungsten Jig + Micro Plastic
1–1.5" micro plastic
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
Greenwood Lake is a large but shallow lake with dark brown colored water located 23 miles northwest of Silver Bay in Lake County and within the Superior National Forest. There is a public water access off Lake County 2 with a concrete log boat ramp and parking for several vehicle and trailer rigs. A standard survey was completed in August 2025 to monitor the status of the fish community and provide updated information about angling opportunities.
Walleye were captured at a rate of 12.9 per gill net which is within the normal range for this type of lake and similar to the nine previous surveys of Greenwood Lake. Age analysis confirms natural reproduction and recruitment to the fishery still occurs annually. Survival is good but size is generally poor with an average length of 11.8" and only 16% of the catch longer than 14 inches. Survey results confirm the lake continues to support a Walleye population with average abundance and small size structure.
Read the full DNR narrative
Northern Pike have been captured in each of the previous surveys of the lake, but the population has never had the size structure to be of much interest to anglers. The 2025 catch had an average size of just 17.4 inches long and included just two pike longer than 24 inches.
Bluegill were sampled for the first time during the 2025 survey. It is possible they migrated from the Sand River watershed via the Greenwood River. Future surveys will determine if the species is able to establish a self-sustaining population capable of supporting a fishery in Greenwood Lake.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Greenwood Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Greenwood 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
- Greenwood Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Greenwood Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Sand Lake · 487 ac · 4.6 mi
- Stony Lake · 249 ac · 6.9 mi
- South McDougal Lake · 287 ac · 7.1 mi
- Middle McDougal Lake · 104 ac · 7.9 mi
- Fourth McDougal Lake · 13 ac · 8.1 mi
- Pine Lake · 450 ac · 8.8 mi
- North McDougal Lake · 273 ac · 8.8 mi
- Seven Beaver Lake · 1,414 ac · 8.8 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Greenwood Lake?
Greenwood Lake reaches 7 ft at its deepest point; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Greenwood Lake?
Greenwood Lake covers 1,329 acres with about 11 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Greenwood Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Greenwood Lake average 2.8 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Greenwood Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, northern pike, bluegill, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Greenwood Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Greenwood Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Greenwood Lake have a public access?
Yes. Greenwood Lake has one public access site: Greenwood Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Greenwood Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 20"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Greenwood Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Greenwood Lake in 2025, the most recent of 9 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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