Minnesota · Lake County
Harriet Lake Fishing guide
Harriet Lake sits in Lake County, Minnesota, and covers 265 acres, reaching 37 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 9.3 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 14 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, northern pike, crappie and yellow perch in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeOne of the best around26.2per gill net11"Typical23"Biggest
Lengths measured · 178 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 178 fish
2022Lengths measured · 55 fish
2017Lengths measured · 7 fish
2013Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 105 fish
2009Northern pikeJust a few4.8per gill net20"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 35 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 35 fish
2022Lengths measured · 62 fish
2017Lengths measured · 7 fish
2013Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 35 fish
2009Yellow perchExcellent numbers18.3per gill net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 162 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 162 fish
2022Lengths measured · 290 fish
2017Lengths measured · 92 fish
2009Lengths measured · 1251 fish
2004Rates 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 Harriet 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. With 73% 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.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth.
- 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 73% 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 23" | 25" | 8" |
| 2017 | 26" | 31" | 8" |
| 2013 | 22" | 36" | — |
| 2009 | 25" | 26" | 8" |
| 2004 | 28" | 41" | 10" |
| 1994 | 22" | 26" | 8" |
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
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
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile 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
A targeted survey consisting of a temperature-dissolved oxygen profile was conducted in August of 2025 to assess the habitat available to Lake Whitefish in Harriet Lake. Data collected during this survey will be used by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to evaluate habitat in lakes that support coldwater species including Lake Whitefish. Based on the profile taken from the deepest area of the lake the temperature where the dissolved oxygen was 3.0 mg/L (TDO3) was 13.8 degrees Celsius (56.84 degrees Fahrenheit). This indicates that suitable habitat was present for Lake Whitefish in 2025 and meets the water quality standard currently proposed by MPCA of a TDO3 of 17.2 degrees Celsius (62.96 degrees Fahrenheit) or less for lakes that support Lake Whitefish. However, the suitable habitat was limited to a narrow band between 15 and 17 feet in the water column. At a depth of 18 feet the dissolved oxygen dropped below 3.0 mg/L. Lake Whitefish were last sampled in Harriet Lake during late fall of 2013 as part of a targeted survey of the population. Prior to that, the last time Lake Whitefish were sampled was in the fall of 1980. In both cases, the numbers of fish sampled were small.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Harriet Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Harriet 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
- Harriet Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Harriet Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Fulton Lake · 36 ac · 1.3 mi
- Wanless Lake · 78 ac · 1.3 mi
- Dam Five Lake · 78 ac · 1.5 mi
- Alger Lake · 21 ac · 1.5 mi
- Steer Lake · 4 ac · 1.7 mi
- Wilson Lake · 650 ac · 1.9 mi
- Hogback Lake · 40 ac · 1.9 mi
- Scarp Lake · 40 ac · 1.9 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Harriet Lake?
Harriet Lake reaches 37 ft at its deepest point; about 73% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Harriet Lake?
Harriet Lake covers 265 acres with about 6.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Harriet Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Harriet Lake average 9.3 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Harriet Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, northern pike, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Harriet Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Harriet Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Harriet Lake have a public access?
Yes. Harriet Lake has one public access site: Harriet Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Harriet Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 23"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Harriet Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Harriet Lake in 2025, the most recent of 14 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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