Minnesota · Cass County
Little Boy Lake Fishing guide
Little Boy Lake sits in Cass County, Minnesota, and covers 1,452 acres, reaching 74 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 12.7 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 19 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Excellent numbers10.1per gill net14"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 356 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 194 fish
2024Lengths measured · 162 fish
2021Lengths measured · 163 fish
2018Lengths measured · 103 fish
2015Smallmouth bassPresent2.8per gill net14"Typical20"Biggest
Lengths measured · 68 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 30 fish
2024Lengths measured · 38 fish
2021Lengths measured · 63 fish
2018Lengths measured · 20 fish
2015Northern pikeFair numbers7.9per gill net20"Typical33"Biggest
Lengths measured · 196 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 81 fish
2024Lengths measured · 115 fish
2021Lengths measured · 120 fish
2018Lengths measured · 95 fish
2015Present in recent DNR surveys.
BluegillJust a few14.3per trap net3"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 707 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2024Lengths measured · 300 fish
2024Lengths measured · 307 fish
2023Lengths measured · 100 fish
2021Lengths measured · 112 fish
2018CrappieJust a few0.3per trap net10"Typical14"Biggest
Lengths measured · 75 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2024Lengths measured · 3 fish
2024Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 71 fish
2023Lengths measured · 1 fish
2021Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 2 fish
2018Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Yellow perchExcellent numbers15.8per gill net5"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 391 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 201 fish
2024Lengths measured · 190 fish
2021Lengths measured · 274 fish
2018Lengths measured · 240 fish
2015Rock bassOne of the best around7.2per gill net7"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 190 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 94 fish
2024Lengths measured · 96 fish
2021Lengths measured · 49 fish
2018Lengths measured · 94 fish
2015Rates 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 Little Boy Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 12.7 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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. On a lake that drops to 74 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 12.7 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 74 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 | Walleye | Northern pike | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 25" | 33" | 10" |
| 2021 | 24" | 30" | 15" |
| 2018 | 25" | 34" | 18" |
| 2015 | 26" | 31" | 7" |
| 2012 | 22" | 36" | 15" |
| 2005 | 26" | 31" | 16" |
| 2002 | 24" | 25" | 13" |
| 1999 | 24" | 38" | 11" |
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
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
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
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 | 467,190 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 467,190 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 470,375 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 932,085 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 932,335 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles were collected in the deepest basins in Little Boy Lake on July 30, 2024 , to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin, the water temperature decreased to below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 22.8 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 22.5 feet at the time of sampling. The water column did not contain a layer of water with sufficient temperature and dissolved oxygen for Cisco.
Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 21.5 degrees C (70.7 degrees F). TDO3 values near 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were marginal for Cisco at the time of this survey.
Read the full DNR narrative
Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in 2022 and 2023 during the late summer thermal stress period indicate suitable oxythermal habitat, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2022. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Little Boy Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Little Boy 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
- Little Boy Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Little Boy Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Hunter Lake · 182 ac · 1.9 mi
- Rice Lake · 270 ac · 2.1 mi
- Wabedo Lake · 1,226 ac · 2.3 mi
- Mule Lake · 525 ac · 3.5 mi
- Girl Lake · 428 ac · 3.5 mi
- Inguadona Lake · 1,133 ac · 4 mi
- Woman Lake · 5,520 ac · 4.4 mi
- Lake · 759 ac · 4.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Little Boy Lake?
Little Boy Lake reaches 74 ft at its deepest point; about 32% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Little Boy Lake?
Little Boy Lake covers 1,452 acres with about 10 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Little Boy Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Little Boy Lake average 12.7 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Little Boy Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Little Boy Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Little Boy Lake have a public access?
Yes. Little Boy Lake has one public access site: Little Boy Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Little Boy Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 25"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1999.
When was Little Boy Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Little Boy Lake in 2024, the most recent of 19 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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