Minnesota · St. Louis County
Johnson Lake Fishing guide
Johnson Lake is a 1,737-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota, reaching 88 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 10.9 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 11 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike and yellow perch in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeFair numbers3.6per gill net19"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 43 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 43 fish
2022Lengths measured · 27 fish
2016Lengths measured · 61 fish
2011Lengths measured · 45 fish
2004Smallmouth bassPresent2.3per gill net12"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 27 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 27 fish
2022Lengths measured · 22 fish
2016Lengths measured · 22 fish
2011Lengths measured · 17 fish
2004Northern pikeJust a few4.8per gill net22"Typical39"Biggest
Lengths measured · 57 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 57 fish
2022Lengths measured · 48 fish
2016Lengths measured · 30 fish
2011Lengths measured · 39 fish
2004Yellow perchFair numbers1.8per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 21 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 21 fish
2022Lengths measured · 31 fish
2016Lengths measured · 59 fish
2011Lengths measured · 82 fish
2004Last recorded in the 2011 survey and not seen since.
Rock bassGood numbers1.3per gill net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 15 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 15 fish
2022Lengths measured · 20 fish
2016Lengths measured · 1 fish
2011Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 6 fish
2004Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
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 Johnson Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 10.9 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 88 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.
Smallmouth bass
- Spring
- Smallmouth are on shallow rock, gravel and sand where they spawn. At 10.9 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Smallmouth are post-spawn on rock points, gravel bars and the adjacent breaks.
- Summer
- Smallmouth are on rock humps, points and hard-bottom breaks. On a lake that drops to 88 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Smallmouth are bunched tight on deep rock, so find one and you have found the school.
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 | Smallmouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 28" | 17" | 39" |
| 2016 | 29" | 17" | 33" |
| 2011 | 30" | 17" | 36" |
| 2004 | 26" | 16" | 34" |
| 1999 | 26" | 17" | 33" |
| 1993 | 26" | 14" | 34" |
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
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Smallmouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Tail Spinner
Compact lead body with a free-spinning blade on the tail
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.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected in the deepest basin in Johnson Lake on August 1, 2024 to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Whitefish the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake (Cisco also present). During the summer, Lake Whitefish require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 17.2 degrees C (63.0 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin, the water temperature decreased to below 17.2 degrees C (63.0 degrees F) at 26.7 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 71 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 44.4 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present for Lake Whitefish.
Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 7.4 degrees C (45.3 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 17.2 degrees C (63.0 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Lake Whitefish 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 in 2023, 2016, and 2014 also indicated suitable oxythermal habitat in all years. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Lake Whitefish are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Johnson Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Johnson 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
- Johnson Lake (carry-in)
DNR bathymetry
Johnson Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Spring Lake · 219 ac · 2.4 mi
- Franklin Lake · 156 ac · 2.9 mi
- Little Johnson Lake · 566 ac · 3.7 mi
- Moose Lake · 228 ac · 4.3 mi
- Tooth Lake · 59 ac · 4.4 mi
- Net Lake · 70 ac · 4.6 mi
- Marion Lake · 183 ac · 5 mi
- Mukooda Lake · 774 ac · 5.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Johnson Lake?
Johnson Lake reaches 88 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 24.5 ft; about 32% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Johnson Lake?
Johnson Lake covers 1,737 acres with about 26.8 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Johnson Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Johnson Lake average 10.9 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Johnson Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, lake trout, rock bass.
Is Johnson Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Johnson Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Johnson Lake have a public access?
Yes. Johnson Lake has one public access site: Johnson Lake (carry-in).
How big do walleye get in Johnson Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 28"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1993.
When was Johnson Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Johnson Lake in 2024, the most recent of 11 surveys on record.
Page updated .
Featured guide spot
Your guide service here
One featured guide per lake, with your photo, your writeup and a link straight to your booking page. Free through December 31, 2026.
Then $20 a month from January. Cancel any time.
The live map adds today's conditions and ranked spots for Johnson Lake, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open Johnson Lake on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report