Minnesota · Lake County
Lax Lake Fishing guide
Lax Lake sits in Lake County, Minnesota, and covers 295 acres, reaching 35 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 9.1 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 30 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Good numbers4.7per gill net13"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 70 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 1 fish
2025Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 9 fish
2024Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 4 fish
2023Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 13 fish
2022Largemouth bassFair numbers26per hr (electrofishing)15"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 167 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 60 fish
2025Lengths measured · 11 fish
2024Lengths measured · 17 fish
2023Lengths measured · 56 fish
2022No recent survey rating.
Northern pikeFair numbers6.2per gill net19"Typical36"Biggest
Lengths measured · 43 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 43 fish
2022Lengths measured · 11 fish
2018Lengths measured · 31 fish
2018Lengths measured · 35 fish
2014BluegillJust a few19.4per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 500 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 302 fish
2022Lengths measured · 198 fish
2022Lengths measured · 454 fish
2018Lengths measured · 202 fish
2018CrappieJust a few0.7per trap net8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 95 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 32 fish
2025Lengths measured · 19 fish
2024Lengths measured · 11 fish
2022Lengths measured · 33 fish
2022Yellow perchGood numbers6.2per gill net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 38 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 38 fish
2022Lengths measured · 1 fish
2018Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 46 fish
2018Lengths measured · 17 fish
2014Rates 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 Lax Lake through the year
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 65% 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.
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. With 65% 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.
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 | 15" | 19" | — |
| 2024 | 14" | 17" | — |
| 2023 | 12" | 18" | — |
| 2022 | 27" | 19" | 36" |
| 2018 | 24" | 18" | 36" |
| 2014 | 25" | 19" | 39" |
| 2013 | — | 18" | — |
| 2010 | 26" | 18" | 40" |
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 · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
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 · 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 | 2,742 fingerlings |
| 2024 | Walleye | 3,072 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 1,560 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 6,522 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 6,427 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 4,340 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 4,608 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 4,800 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 2,880 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 2,880 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Lax Lake was conducted on July 21st-July 23rd, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing, mini-fyke nets, and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at 10 sampling stations. Similarly, a 1/8" mesh mini-fyke net was used to sample 10 stations. Finally, a 50-foot seine was used to sample four stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at one station. Five stations were not seined due to steep drop-offs and heavy woody debris. Nearshore sampling captured nine species of fish, including Golden Shiner, Johnny Darter, and Mottled Sculpin.
The nearshore data along with gill net and standard trap net data will be used to develop fish community models for Northeast Minnesota lakes, which will be used to measure lake health. These models may function similarly to fish IBI models developed for lakes across much of the rest of the state. For additional information, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. You can help protect the fish community in Lax Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Lax Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Lax 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
- Lax Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Lax Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Tetagouche Lake · 67 ac · 1.5 mi
- Nicado Lake · 14 ac · 1.8 mi
- Micmac Lake · 137 ac · 2.1 mi
- Bear Lake · 18 ac · 2.3 mi
- Bean Lake · 32 ac · 2.5 mi
- Nipisiquit Lake · 59 ac · 2.6 mi
- Bear Lake · 44 ac · 4.7 mi
- Johnson Lake · 36 ac · 5.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Lax Lake?
Lax Lake reaches 35 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 10 ft; about 65% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Lax Lake?
Lax Lake covers 295 acres with about 3.9 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Lax Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Lax Lake average 9.1 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Lax Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Lax Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Lax Lake have a public access?
Yes. Lax Lake has one public access site: Lax Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Lax Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 27"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2010.
When was Lax Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Lax Lake in 2025, the most recent of 30 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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