Minnesota · Cass County
Inguadona Lake Fishing guide
Inguadona Lake sits in Cass County, Minnesota, and covers 1,133 acres, reaching 79 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 10.2 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 16 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers3.9per gill net15"Typical21"Biggest
Lengths measured · 47 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 47 fish
2024Lengths measured · 37 fish
2019Lengths measured · 59 fish
2016Lengths measured · 77 fish
2009Northern pikeGood numbers10.3per gill net19"Typical32"Biggest
Lengths measured · 127 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 127 fish
2024Lengths measured · 123 fish
2019Lengths measured · 138 fish
2016Lengths measured · 117 fish
2009Last recorded in the 2019 survey and not seen since.
BluegillJust a few7.8per trap net7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 998 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2024Lengths measured · 141 fish
2024Lengths measured · 857 fish
2023Lengths measured · 394 fish
2019Lengths measured · 97 fish
2016CrappieJust a few0.8per trap net9"Typical15"Biggest
Lengths measured · 166 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2024Lengths measured · 40 fish
2024Lengths measured · 126 fish
2023Lengths measured · 105 fish
2019Lengths measured · 14 fish
2016Yellow perchGood numbers7.1per gill net5"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 91 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 91 fish
2024Lengths measured · 78 fish
2019Lengths measured · 66 fish
2016Lengths measured · 141 fish
2009Rock bassFair numbers0.8per gill net7"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 11 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 11 fish
2024Lengths measured · 23 fish
2019Lengths measured · 6 fish
2016Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 54 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 Inguadona Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 10.2 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 79 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.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 10.2 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 79 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.
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 | Northern pike | Walleye | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 32" | 21" | 18" |
| 2019 | 36" | 26" | 18" |
| 2016 | 27" | 24" | 19" |
| 2009 | 35" | 27" | 19" |
| 2007 | 30" | 26" | 18" |
| 2004 | 30" | 30" | 20" |
| 1998 | 26" | 26" | 19" |
| 1994 | 33" | 22" | 17" |
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:
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
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
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 6,030 yearlings |
| 2024 | Walleye | 216 fingerlings · 3,785 yearlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 18,727 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 17,290 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 19,229 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 26,674 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Inguadona Lake, which is located partially within the Leech Lake Reservation, on July 31st, 2025, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. During the summer, Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile collected to 23.0 feet, the deepest point with measurable oxygen (maximum lake depth 79.0 feet), water temperature dropped below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 17.9 feet, and dissolved oxygen declined to 3.0 mg/L at 19.1 feet. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 1.2 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present but marginal for Cisco.
Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 20.4 degrees C (68.7 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were marginal for Cisco at the time of the survey as the layer was confined to less than 3 feet of suitable habitat at the time of the survey.
Read the full DNR narrative
Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to August 24th) in six years, between 2007-2024, indicate a range of oxythermal habitat in most years when surveyed. The least favorable conditions were recorded in 2024 with no suitable oxythermal habitat layer present whereas the most favorable conditions were recorded in 2009 with 16.0 feet of suitable habitat. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Inguadona Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Inguadona 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
- DNR access: Public access on southeast shore of south basin
DNR bathymetry
Inguadona Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Rice Lake · 270 ac · 2 mi
- Lower Trelipe Lake · 618 ac · 3 mi
- Long Lake · 1,007 ac · 3.7 mi
- Little Boy Lake · 1,452 ac · 4 mi
- Upper Trelipe Lake · 421 ac · 4.3 mi
- Mitten Lake · 113 ac · 4.5 mi
- Girl Lake · 428 ac · 4.7 mi
- Boxell Lake · 66 ac · 4.9 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Inguadona Lake?
Inguadona Lake reaches 79 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 20.3 ft; about 50% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Inguadona Lake?
Inguadona Lake covers 1,133 acres with about 11 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Inguadona Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Inguadona Lake average 10.2 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Inguadona Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Inguadona Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Inguadona Lake have a public access?
Yes. Inguadona Lake has one public access site: DNR access (Public access on southeast shore of south basin).
How big do northern pike get in Inguadona Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 32"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Inguadona Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Inguadona Lake in 2025, the most recent of 16 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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