Minnesota · Pope County
Lake Emily Fishing guide
Lake Emily covers 2,316 acres in Pope County, Minnesota, reaching 6 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 2.5 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 9 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Excellent numbers6.2per gill net14"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 107 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 44 fish
2025Lengths measured · 63 fish
2022Lengths measured · 74 fish
2016Lengths measured · 212 fish
2010Largemouth bassGood numbers71.2per hr (electrofishing)13"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 92 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 92 fish
2022Lengths measured · 10 fish
2016Lengths measured · 17 fish
2010Lengths measured · 3 fish
2005Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Northern pikeJust a few4.3per gill net27"Typical36"Biggest
Lengths measured · 73 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 24 fish
2025Lengths measured · 49 fish
2022Lengths measured · 54 fish
2016Lengths measured · 46 fish
2010BluegillJust a few11.3per trap net5"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 200 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 200 fish
2022Lengths measured · 12 fish
2016Lengths measured · 3 fish
2010Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 2 fish
2005Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
CrappieJust a few2.4per trap net11"Typical16"Biggest
Lengths measured · 63 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 7 fish
2025Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 56 fish
2022Lengths measured · 28 fish
2016Lengths measured · 298 fish
2010Yellow perchFair numbers2.4per gill net8"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 20 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 20 fish
2022Lengths measured · 21 fish
2016Lengths measured · 4 fish
2010Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 4 fish
2005Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
No recent survey rating.
Channel catfishOne of the best around11.9per gill net21"Typical29"Biggest
Lengths measured · 189 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 121 fish
2025Lengths measured · 68 fish
2022Lengths measured · 41 fish
2016Lengths measured · 9 fish
2010Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
No recent survey rating.
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 Lake Emily through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 2.5 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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 100% 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 6-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. In 2.5 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze. A 6-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 | Walleye | Largemouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26" | — | 36" |
| 2022 | 28" | 18" | 32" |
| 2016 | 28" | 16" | 34" |
| 2010 | 22" | 17" | 33" |
| 2005 | 29" | 16" | 33" |
| 2000 | 28" | 16" | 30" |
| 1995 | 28" | 17" | 29" |
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 · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Spinnerbait
3/8–1/2 oz safety-pin spinnerbait with tandem willow-leaf blades
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | 1,155,500 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 1,155,500 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 1,155,500 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 1,155,500 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 1,155,500 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 2,200,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 1,180,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Lake Emily is a shallow 2,377-acre, highly-productive basin located in southwestern Pope County with a maximum depth of 6 feet. Despite being shallow, winterkill events have been rare. Groundwater exchange, springs, and combined stream flows from the Little Chippewa River and Lake Minnewaska help sustain adequate dissolved oxygen levels to support fish life during winter months. Habitat changes are evident in Lake Emily in response to infestations of aquatic invasive species that include curly-leaf pondweed, Eurasian watermilfoil, and zebra mussels. Water transparency has increased to exceed 3 feet in recent years. Eurasian watermilfoil can form dense stands on the east end of the lake, and expansion of submergent plants within western portions of the basin has occurred as well. A targeted survey, consisting of eight gill nets, was conducted June 2-4, 2025 to evaluate the fish community of Lake Emily. This survey was primarily conducted to evaluate Walleye stocking and natural reproduction between standard surveys.
Walleye abundance (5.6/gill net) was below the long-term average, but similar to recent surveys in 2022 (6.7/gill net) and 2016 (6.5/gill net). Past Walleye relative abundance has been quite variable, ranging from 2.5/gill net (1987) to 31.0/gill net (2010). Walleye growth is fast, but most fish were young. Average length was 15.6 inches, and the largest was 26.1 inches. Considerable natural reproduction has been documented in past surveys (see 2022 survey), although annual fry stocking from 2021 to 2024 make evaluation difficult for this survey. Biennial stockings of Lower Mississippi strain Walleye fry, which began in 2024, will be evaluated in the future.
Read the full DNR narrative
Northern Pike were sampled at a record low (3.0/gill net), but the size structure was impressive. The number of pike greater than 28 inches was much higher than previous surveys. Pike ranged from 16.7 to 36.7 inches, averaging 27.1 inches. Anglers are encouraged to harvest small Northern Pike. New Northern Pike regulations were implemented in 2018 to increase size structure. Lake Emily is in the North-Central Zone, where all pike from 22 to 26 inches must be released. Anglers can keep 10 pike, but not more than two can be longer than 26 inches. Northern Pike taken by spearing follow the same rules, except one pike may be between 22 and 26 inches, or two larger than 26 inches. For more information see: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/pike/index.html.
The Channel Catfish population continues to expand (15.1/gill net), and was significantly higher than any previous survey (8.6/gill net in 2022). Catfish ranged from 14.6 to 28.0 inches, with a mean of 20.8 inches. Few Black Crappie were sampled (0.9/gill net), similar to past surveys. The sample was limited, but growth was fast and fish were large. Crappie averaged 11.8 inches, with the largest fish sampled being 12.8 inches. Other species sampled include Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Freshwater Drum, Quillback, Shorthead Redhorse and White Sucker.
Lake Emily is designated as infested with Eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussels. Eurasian watermilfoil was first found in Lake Emily in 2014. The lake is downstream of Lake Minnewaska and was added to the infested waters list for zebra mussels in 2012. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are easily moved from infested to non-infested waters and can negatively affect lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain water from their boat before leaving the access. For more information regarding aquatic invasive species see the following: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquatic/index.html.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Lake Emily fishing reports
Recent reports on Lake Emily 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
- Emily Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Lake Emily depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Signalness Lake · 42 ac · 5.7 mi
- Page Lake · 375 ac · 7.7 mi
- Long Lake · 620 ac · 9.2 mi
- Nelson Lake · 293 ac · 9.3 mi
- Lake Charlotte · 468 ac · 9.7 mi
- Lake Minnewaska · 8,050 ac · 10.8 mi
- Strandness Lake · 92 ac · 11.7 mi
- Malmedal Lake · 199 ac · 11.7 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Lake Emily?
Lake Emily reaches 6 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 5 ft; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Lake Emily?
Lake Emily covers 2,316 acres with about 12 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Lake Emily?
DNR Secchi readings on Lake Emily average 2.5 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Lake Emily?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass, channel catfish, white bass.
Is Lake Emily stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Lake Emily have a public access?
Yes. Lake Emily has one public access site: Emily Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Lake Emily?
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 1995.
When was Lake Emily last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Lake Emily in 2025, the most recent of 9 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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