Minnesota · Pine County
Island Lake Fishing guide
Island Lake covers 527 acres in Pine County, Minnesota, reaching 42 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 5.6 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 16 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and muskellunge in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers3.2per gill net15"Typical24"Biggest
Lengths measured · 35 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2024Lengths measured · 3 fish
2024Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 2 fish
2023Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 30 fish
2023Lengths measured · 27 fish
2019Largemouth bassJust a few1.2per hr (electrofishing)9"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 18 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 5 fish
2023Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 13 fish
2023Lengths measured · 102 fish
2019Lengths measured · 88 fish
2016Northern pikeJust a few4per gill net21"Typical31"Biggest
Lengths measured · 46 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 7 fish
2023Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 39 fish
2023Lengths measured · 56 fish
2019Lengths measured · 286 fish
2016Present and managed by the DNR.
BluegillFair numbers41.1per trap net7"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 2373 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2024Lengths measured · 1483 fish
2024Lengths measured · 511 fish
2023Lengths measured · 379 fish
2023Lengths measured · 245 fish
2019CrappieJust a few2.2per trap net9"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 548 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 203 fish
2025Lengths measured · 296 fish
2024Lengths measured · 31 fish
2023Lengths measured · 18 fish
2023Yellow perchExcellent numbers24.1per gill net7"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 223 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 3 fish
2023Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 220 fish
2023Lengths measured · 354 fish
2019Lengths measured · 646 fish
2014Rock bassGood numbers1.2per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 27 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 10 fish
2023Lengths measured · 17 fish
2023Lengths measured · 8 fish
2019Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 36 fish
2014Rates 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 Island 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 42 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.
- 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 42 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 16" | — | — |
| 2023 | 24" | 18" | 31" |
| 2019 | 26" | 19" | 33" |
| 2016 | 29" | 20" | 34" |
| 2014 | 25" | 19" | 34" |
| 2009 | 29" | 15" | 37" |
| 2004 | 26" | 17" | 33" |
| 1999 | 24" | 16" | 30" |
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
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Spinnerbait
3/8–1/2 oz safety-pin spinnerbait with tandem willow-leaf blades
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 | Muskellunge | 47 fingerlings · 17 yearlings |
| 2025 | Walleye | 9,345 fingerlings |
| 2024 | Muskellunge | 134 fingerlings |
| 2024 | Walleye | 1,787 fingerlings · 716 yearlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 13,375 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Muskellunge | 134 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 5,193 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 995 fingerlings · 300 yearlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 1,559 yearlings |
| 2019 | Muskellunge | 169 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 2,268 fingerlings · 2,240 yearlings |
| 2018 | Muskellunge | 134 fingerlings |
Stocking records before 2018 omitted.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Island Lake is a 527-acre lake in northern Pine County located three miles south of Moose Lake and is within the Kettle River Watershed. It has a maximum depth of 42 feet and 51 percent of the lake is 15 feet or less (267 acres). Island Lake has three small unnamed inlets with intermittent flows, one of which connects to nearby Little Sand Lake. The lake has one outlet, which connects to nearby Sand Lake. Water clarity is moderate, and ranges from 3 to 7 feet. Sand is the most common substrate along with a few areas of gravel, which results in abundant Bluegill and crappie spawning habitat especially along the east and southeast shorelines. Quantitative aquatic vegetation surveys were conducted in 2009 and 2019. Surveys indicated that Island Lake has a diverse, good quality aquatic plant community. However, Curlyleaf Pondweed is present and is a non-native invasive species. A state administered public access is located at the southwest end of the lake off East Frontage Road (County Hwy 51). The access has a concrete ramp and parking for up to 12 rigs. The shoreline is highly developed with homes.
Past standard lake surveys on Island Lake have typically occurred in July. Warm summer water temperatures typically result in crappies suspending in open water, which decreases their sampling efficiency. However, crappie were sampled and measured during targeted spring musky surveys in 1994, 1999, 2004, and 2009; as well as during a targeted Bluegill survey in 2024. Results of these surveys indicated that Island Lake supports a crappie population moderate in number and size with average lengths typically ranging from 7.5 to 9.5 inches. During the targeted surveys for muskellunge in 1994, 1999, 2004, and 2009, the percentage of Black Crappies sampled that were greater than 10 inches were 64%, 18%, 2%, and 4%, respectively.
Read the full DNR narrative
In the 2024 targeted Bluegill survey, a total of 295 Black Crappie were sampled for a catch rate of 8.4/net. Black Crappie lengths ranged from 4.5 to 12.4 inches with an average length of 9.4 inches. Thirty percent of crappies sampled were greater than 10 inches. The 2024 survey demonstrated a good crappie population was present; however, aging structures were not taken. Therefore, to include Island Lake in the statewide crappie research project, electrofishing was used in 2025 to sample known crappie areas efficiently.
In 2025, a survey targeting Black Crappie was conducted in conjunction with a statewide research project to examine crappie size structure and age distributions. Crappie were caught via boat electrofishing during the daytime on 5/6/2025 and at night on 5/13/2025 when water temperatures were 61 and 65 degrees, respectively.
A total of 203 crappie were caught and measured in 2025. Lengths ranged from 1.9 to 12.4 inches and averaged 9.1 inches. Forty-six percent of crappies sampled were greater than 10 inches. In addition, aging structures were collected from 108 crappie. Ages 1, 3 - 10, and 14 were all represented with ages 4 and 5 representing 56% of fish sampled.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Island Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Island 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
- Island Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Island Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Sand Lake · 527 ac · 1.5 mi
- Echo Lake · 108 ac · 1.7 mi
- Sturgeon Lake · 1,706 ac · 1.9 mi
- Moose Lake · 133 ac · 2.7 mi
- Moosehead Lake · 279 ac · 2.9 mi
- Dago Lake · 118 ac · 4 mi
- Passenger Lake · 67 ac · 4.3 mi
- Hanging Horn Lake · 409 ac · 5.6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Island Lake?
Island Lake reaches 42 ft at its deepest point; about 51% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Island Lake?
Island Lake covers 527 acres with about 7.2 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Island Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Island Lake average 5.6 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Island Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Island Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked muskellunge and walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2018.
Does Island Lake have a public access?
Yes. Island Lake has one public access site: Island Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Island Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 24"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1999.
When was Island Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Island Lake in 2025, the most recent of 16 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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