Minnesota · Crow Wing County
Kimball Lake Fishing guide
Kimball Lake covers 190 acres in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, reaching 77 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 18.6 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 11 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Just a few0.8per gill net21"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 18 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 18 fish
2022Lengths measured · 44 fish
2016Lengths measured · 13 fish
2010Lengths measured · 10 fish
2004Largemouth bassGood numbers55per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 115 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 115 fish
2022Lengths measured · 130 fish
2016Lengths measured · 30 fish
2010Lengths measured · 405 fish
2004Northern pikeFair numbers6.7per gill net23"Typical37"Biggest
Lengths measured · 42 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 42 fish
2022Lengths measured · 30 fish
2016Lengths measured · 31 fish
2010Lengths measured · 38 fish
2004BluegillJust a few17.2per trap net4"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 234 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 234 fish
2022Lengths measured · 392 fish
2016Lengths measured · 477 fish
2010Lengths measured · 263 fish
2004Yellow perchFair numbers2.8per gill net6"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 19 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 19 fish
2022Lengths measured · 7 fish
2016Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 11 fish
2010Lengths measured · 10 fish
2004Rock bassGood numbers1.2per trap net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 12 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 12 fish
2022Lengths measured · 29 fish
2016Lengths measured · 16 fish
2010Lengths measured · 37 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 Kimball Lake through the year
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. At 18.6 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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 77 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.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 18.6 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 77 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.
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 | Largemouth bass | Northern pike | Walleye |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 18" | 37" | 26" |
| 2016 | 19" | 36" | 27" |
| 2010 | 14" | 35" | 29" |
| 2004 | 17" | 39" | 28" |
| 1999 | 13" | 27" | 30" |
| 1994 | 8" | 32" | 27" |
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:
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
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
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 | 1,480 fingerlings |
| 2024 | Walleye | 50,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 50,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 1,036 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 50,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 740 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles were collected in the deepest basin in Kimball Lake on August 14, 2024, 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. 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 from the deepest basin, the water temperature decreased to below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 17.8 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 26.9 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 9.1 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present 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 12.5 degrees C (54.5 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Cisco at the time of this survey.
Read the full DNR narrative
Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in 2022 and 2023 during the late summer thermal stress period also indicate suitable oxythermal habitat, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2024. 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
Kimball Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Kimball 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
- Kimball Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Kimball Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Strawberry Lake · 20 ac · 0.6 mi
- Bass Lake · 121 ac · 0.8 mi
- Grass Lake · 46 ac · 1.1 mi
- Ossawinnamakee Lake · 711 ac · 1.4 mi
- Star Lake · 128 ac · 1.4 mi
- Little Star Lake · 49 ac · 1.5 mi
- Clear Lake · 226 ac · 1.5 mi
- Clamshell Lake · 211 ac · 1.6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Kimball Lake?
Kimball Lake reaches 77 ft at its deepest point; about 19% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Kimball Lake?
Kimball Lake covers 190 acres with about 3.1 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Kimball Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Kimball Lake average 18.6 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Kimball Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Kimball Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Kimball Lake have a public access?
Yes. Kimball Lake has one public access site: Kimball Lake (trailer launch).
How big do largemouth bass get in Kimball Lake?
The biggest largemouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 18"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Kimball Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Kimball 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 Kimball Lake, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open Kimball Lake on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report