Minnesota · Douglas County
Lake Oscar Fishing guide
Lake Oscar sits in Douglas County, Minnesota, and covers 997 acres, reaching 25 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 6.5 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 numbers3.8per gill net15"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 46 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 46 fish
2022Lengths measured · 40 fish
2018Lengths measured · 72 fish
2014Lengths measured · 113 fish
2010Largemouth bassGood numbers68per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 116 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 116 fish
2022Lengths measured · 46 fish
2018Lengths measured · 44 fish
2014Lengths measured · 42 fish
2010Northern pikeFair numbers7.8per gill net22"Typical32"Biggest
Lengths measured · 99 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 99 fish
2022Lengths measured · 54 fish
2018Lengths measured · 54 fish
2014Lengths measured · 52 fish
2010MuskellungePresentPresent in recent DNR surveys.
Present in recent DNR surveys.
Lengths measured · 100 fish
Recent · 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 56 fish
2025Lengths measured · 44 fish
2024Lengths measured · 21 fish
2018Lengths measured · 1 fish
2014Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
BluegillJust a few20.3per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 621 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 621 fish
2022Lengths measured · 394 fish
2018Lengths measured · 841 fish
2014Lengths measured · 422 fish
2010CrappieJust a few0.8per trap net8"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 57 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 57 fish
2022Lengths measured · 96 fish
2018Lengths measured · 84 fish
2014Lengths measured · 116 fish
2010Yellow perchGood numbers8.5per gill net7"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 104 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 104 fish
2022Lengths measured · 228 fish
2018Lengths measured · 180 fish
2014Lengths measured · 552 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 Oscar 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.
- 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.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
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.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
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 | Walleye | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 18" | 26" | 32" |
| 2018 | 18" | 27" | 33" |
| 2014 | 17" | 24" | 31" |
| 2010 | 18" | 26" | 28" |
| 2006 | 18" | 27" | 29" |
| 2002 | 19" | 27" | 27" |
| 1998 | 20" | 27" | 33" |
| 1994 | 19" | 29" | 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:
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
Walleye · Trolling
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
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.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 11,000 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A mark-recapture population estimate of Muskies took place on Oscar Lake during the springs of 2024 and 2025 using passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags. Fish were sampled via electrofishing. A total of 63 individual fish were PIT tagged between the two years. Lengths ranged from 17.1 to 52.8 inches; average length was 40.3 inches. The population estimate was 118 adult (30 inches or greater) muskies, equating to an adult Muskie for every 8.3 surface acres (4.0 littoral acres).
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Lake Oscar fishing reports
Recent reports on Lake Oscar 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
- DNR access
DNR bathymetry
Lake Oscar depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Blackwell Lake · 307 ac · 2.4 mi
- Freeborn Lake · 248 ac · 2.4 mi
- Grant Lake · 177 ac · 3 mi
- Crooked Lake · 284 ac · 3.2 mi
- Lake Rachel · 448 ac · 3.2 mi
- Round Lake · 81 ac · 3.7 mi
- Mill Lake · 451 ac · 3.9 mi
- Gilbert Lake · 202 ac · 4.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Lake Oscar?
Lake Oscar reaches 25 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 13 ft; about 47% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Lake Oscar?
Lake Oscar covers 997 acres with about 11.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Lake Oscar?
DNR Secchi readings on Lake Oscar average 6.5 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Lake Oscar?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Lake Oscar stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025.
Does Lake Oscar have a public access?
Yes. Lake Oscar has one public access site: DNR access.
How big do largemouth bass get in Lake Oscar?
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 Lake Oscar last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Lake Oscar in 2025, the most recent of 16 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 Lake Oscar, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open Lake Oscar on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report