Minnesota · Kanabec County
Lewis Lake Fishing guide
Lewis Lake is a 179-acre lake in Kanabec County, Minnesota, reaching 48 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 8.5 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 8 times, most recently in 2022, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Largemouth bassFair numbers42.2per hr (electrofishing)9"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 57 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 4 fish
2022Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 53 fish
2021Lengths measured · 6 fish
2013Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 69 fish
2006Northern pikeFair numbers9.2per gill net23"Typical36"Biggest
Lengths measured · 50 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 2 fish
2022Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 48 fish
2021Lengths measured · 27 fish
2013Lengths measured · 29 fish
2006BluegillJust a few16.3per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 314 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 89 fish
2022Lengths measured · 225 fish
2021Lengths measured · 66 fish
2013Lengths measured · 138 fish
2006CrappieJust a few1.7per trap net8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 34 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 6 fish
2022Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 28 fish
2021Lengths measured · 15 fish
2013Lengths measured · 83 fish
2006Yellow perchExcellent numbers17.6per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 90 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 1 fish
2022Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 89 fish
2021Lengths measured · 8 fish
2013Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 4 fish
2006Only 4 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 Lewis Lake 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. On a lake that drops to 48 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
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. On a lake that drops to 48 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.
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 | Northern pike | Walleye |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 14" | 22" | — |
| 2021 | 18" | 36" | 25" |
| 2013 | 18" | 36" | 22" |
| 2006 | 19" | 35" | 27" |
| 2001 | 18" | 30" | 23" |
| 1996 | 17" | 28" | 23" |
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 · Jigs & bladed
Swim Jig + Paddletail Trailer
3.5–4.5" paddletail trailer on a bullet-nosed swim jig
Northern pike · Hardbaits
Weedless Spoon + Trailer (Silver Minnow)
3/8–1/2 oz weedless spoon
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
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
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2022 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Lewis Lake was conducted on July 18-20, 2022, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at ten sampling stations, but three stations were sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample three stations, a 15-foot seine was used at four stations, and site conditions prevented the use of seines at three stations. Nearshore sampling captured sixteen species of fish including six species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Least Darter, and Pugnose Shiner) and one that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Green Sunfish).
A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by IBI Program staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured eight species of fish, including two that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Black Bullhead and Green Sunfish). Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number and biomass.
Read the full DNR narrative
The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from a July 2021 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead and Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
Results from this survey indicate that the fish community in Lewis Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score that exceeds the exceptional use threshold determined for similar lakes. These results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Rum River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Lewis Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Lewis 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
- Lewis Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Lewis Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Lory Lake · 222 ac · 1.9 mi
- Devils Lake · 59 ac · 4.8 mi
- Fish Lake · 506 ac · 6.4 mi
- Seventeen Lake · 32 ac · 7.1 mi
- North Stanchfield Lake · 157 ac · 7.7 mi
- South Stanchfield Lake · 411 ac · 9.2 mi
- Little Stanchfield Lake · 146 ac · 10 mi
- Ann Lake · 654 ac · 11.8 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Lewis Lake?
Lewis Lake reaches 48 ft at its deepest point; about 83% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Lewis Lake?
Lewis Lake covers 179 acres with about 3.2 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Lewis Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Lewis Lake average 8.5 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Lewis Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2022) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Lewis Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Lewis Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Lewis Lake have a public access?
Yes. Lewis Lake has one public access site: Lewis Lake (trailer launch).
How big do largemouth bass get in Lewis Lake?
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 1996.
When was Lewis Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Lewis Lake in 2022, the most recent of 8 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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