Minnesota · Douglas County
Lake Aaron Fishing guide
Lake Aaron is a 610-acre lake in Douglas County, Minnesota, reaching 16 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 7.6 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 13 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Good numbers4per gill net17"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 39 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 39 fish
2022Lengths measured · 28 fish
2016Lengths measured · 42 fish
2010Lengths measured · 45 fish
2006Largemouth bassGood numbers74per hr (electrofishing)12"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 126 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 126 fish
2022Lengths measured · 68 fish
2016Lengths measured · 90 fish
2010Lengths measured · 130 fish
2006No recent survey rating.
Northern pikeOne of the best around15.7per gill net16"Typical35"Biggest
Lengths measured · 146 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 146 fish
2022Lengths measured · 63 fish
2016Lengths measured · 109 fish
2010Lengths measured · 136 fish
2006BluegillGood numbers54.9per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 1352 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 725 fish
2024Lengths measured · 627 fish
2022Lengths measured · 510 fish
2016Lengths measured · 589 fish
2010CrappieJust a few1.9per trap net8"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 102 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 29 fish
2024Lengths measured · 73 fish
2022Lengths measured · 49 fish
2016Lengths measured · 35 fish
2010Rates 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 Lake Aaron through the year
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 77% 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. A 16-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
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 77% 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. A 16-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 35" | 27" | 18" |
| 2016 | 32" | 25" | 18" |
| 2010 | 38" | 28" | 18" |
| 2006 | 37" | 26" | 19" |
| 2002 | 33" | 29" | 18" |
| 1998 | 28" | 26" | 17" |
| 1994 | 30" | 27" | 18" |
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 · Trolling
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
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
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 | 34 fingerlings · 2,321 yearlings · 424 adults |
| 2024 | Walleye | 3,000 fingerlings · 1,500 yearlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 11,692 fingerlings · 2,375 yearlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 5,205 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 1,908 fingerlings · 3,360 yearlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 11,088 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 351 yearlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 9,544 fingerlings · 1,000 yearlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 528 yearlings · 192 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
A targeted survey was conducted May 14-15 on Aaron Lake to assess the Bluegill and Black Crappie populations. Bluegill were abundant (90.5/trap net). Lengths ranged from 3.4 to 8.9 inches, with an average of 6.8 inches. Growth is below average for the area, but Bluegill were recorded out to age 12. Black Crappie catch rates (3.6/trap net) were moderate. Size structure is poor, which is likely the result of slow growth and relatively young fish (predominately age 4). Lengths ranged from 5.5 to 10.5 inches; average length was 8.7 inches.
Anglers are encouraged to practice selective harvest to help sustain the quality of the fishery. Selective harvest encourages the release of larger fish while promoting harvest of more abundant smaller fish. Releasing medium to large fish can help restore and maintain fish community balance, as well as increase opportunities to catch large fish in the future.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Lake Aaron fishing reports
Recent reports on Lake Aaron 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
- Aaron Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Lake Aaron depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Lake Moses · 824 ac · 1.1 mi
- Little Chippewa Lake · 271 ac · 5.2 mi
- Spitzer Lake · 731 ac · 5.7 mi
- Chippewa Lake · 1,186 ac · 5.8 mi
- Devils Lake · 234 ac · 5.8 mi
- Stowe Lake · 377 ac · 6 mi
- Indian Lake · 99 ac · 6.3 mi
- Lake Ina · 218 ac · 6.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Lake Aaron?
Lake Aaron reaches 16 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 9 ft; about 77% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Lake Aaron?
Lake Aaron covers 610 acres with about 4.9 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Lake Aaron?
DNR Secchi readings on Lake Aaron average 7.6 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Lake Aaron?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Lake Aaron stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Lake Aaron have a public access?
Yes. Lake Aaron has one public access site: Aaron Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Lake Aaron?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 35"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Lake Aaron last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Lake Aaron in 2024, the most recent of 13 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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