Minnesota · Itasca County
Larson Lake Fishing guide
Larson Lake sits in Itasca County, Minnesota, and covers 208 acres, reaching 177 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 18.7 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 12 times, most recently in 2020, with walleye, northern pike, bluegill and yellow perch in the nets. That survey is 6 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
No recent survey rating.
No recent survey rating.
Yellow perchGood numbers6.2per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 221 fish
Recent · 2014 + 2020Lengths measured · 143 fish
2020Lengths measured · 78 fish
2014Lengths measured · 278 fish
2007Lengths measured · 250 fish
2002Last recorded in the 1979 survey and not seen since.
Last recorded in the 1992 survey and not seen since.
Present in recent DNR surveys.
SplakeLast stocked 2025Present, stockedPresent and managed by the DNR.
Present and managed by the DNR.
Lengths measured · 15 fish
Recent · 2014 + 2020Lengths measured · 2 fish
2020Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 13 fish
2014Lengths measured · 41 fish
2007Lengths measured · 8 fish
2002Only 8 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 Larson Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 18.7 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 177 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.
Brown trout
- Spring
- Brown trout are on the breaks and points, hunting bait through the low-light hours. At 18.7 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Brown trout are easing deeper along the breaks as the surface warms.
- Summer
- Brown trout are deep on the breaks by day and shallow only after dark, the most nocturnal trout here. On a lake that drops to 177 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Brown trout are moving shallow onto gravel and toward inlet streams to spawn, the most aggressive window of their year.
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 | Brown trout | Splake |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 31" | — | 30" |
| 2014 | 26" | 27" | 22" |
| 2007 | 28" | 17" | 23" |
| 2002 | 30" | — | 13" |
| 1997 | 37" | — | 22" |
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 · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
Brown trout · Trolling
Trout Trolling (spoons/cowbells)
2–3in trolling spoon behind a small cowbell/dodger string
Brown trout · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
Splake · Trolling
Trout Trolling (spoons/cowbells)
2–3in trolling spoon behind a small cowbell/dodger string
Splake · 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Splake | 1,542 yearlings |
| 2023 | Splake | 1,310 yearlings |
| 2020 | Splake | 5,242 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Splake | 9,900 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Splake | 9,960 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2020 survey
Larson Lake is located 12 miles east of Effie, MN in the Big Fork River watershed. The lake has a surface area of 198 acres and a maximum depth of 177 feet. There is a DNR-administered access at the State Campground on the west side of the lake.
The current lake management plan lists Splake as the primary species of management, with a goal of maintaining a gill-net catch at 2.0/net. Splake have been stocked in Larson Lake since 1988. The current state record Splake (13 lbs. 5.4 oz.) was caught from the lake in February 2001. Splake fingerlings are stocked in the fall in even-numbered years at a rate of 50/acre. A standard lake survey was conducted in August 2020 to assess the status of the fishery and the effectiveness of the stocking plan.
Read the full DNR narrative
Gill-net catches for Splake ranged from 0.8 to 6.8/net in previous surveys. The 2020 gill-net catch was 0.3/net, well below the management plan goal. The low catch rate suggests poor survival of stocked fingerlings. A change to stocking a more advanced life-stage (yearlings) could be considered. The two fish sampled were 10.2 and 30.5 inches. The largest trout was quickly measured, weighed and released, and weighed approximately 13.65 lbs. If accurate, this weight would exceed the current state record.
Management of other trout species has been attempted in Larson Lake. Brown Trout yearlings were stocked in the springs of 2005 and 2007. Brown Trout management was discontinued after these initial stockings failed to produce a fishable population. Rainbow Trout were stocked as recently as 2003. Previous surveys indicated poor returns from Rainbow Trout stocking.
Larson Lake was chemically reclaimed in 1966 to remove undesirable species. Several undesirable species have become re-established in the lake since that time. Yellow Perch were sampled at 10.5/gill net, up from the previous survey but near the historical average (10.1). Yellow Perch can be a competitor with stream trout in lakes, since they both utilize invertebrates as a prey source; however, Yellow Perch in Larson Lake also provide a prey source for Splake. Other species sampled in this survey included Black Bullhead, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed Sunfish and White Sucker.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Larson Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Larson 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
- Larson Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Larson Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Coon Lake · 345 ac · 1.4 mi
- Bass Lake · 122 ac · 1.7 mi
- Erskine Lake · 40 ac · 2.8 mi
- Wilson Lake · 92 ac · 3.8 mi
- Pickerel Lake · 241 ac · 4.8 mi
- Lost Lake · 89 ac · 5.2 mi
- Napoleon Lake · 138 ac · 5.2 mi
- Deer Lake · 1,855 ac · 5.3 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Larson Lake?
Larson Lake reaches 177 ft at its deepest point; about 25% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Larson Lake?
Larson Lake covers 208 acres with about 3.8 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Larson Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Larson Lake average 18.7 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Larson Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2020) record walleye, northern pike, bluegill, yellow perch, brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, splake.
Is Larson Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked splake in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Larson Lake have a public access?
Yes. Larson Lake has one public access site: Larson Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Larson Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 31"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1997.
When was Larson Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Larson Lake in 2020, the most recent of 12 surveys on record. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.
Page updated .
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