Minnesota · Cook County
Little Cascade Lake Fishing guide
Little Cascade Lake covers 262 acres in Cook County, Minnesota, reaching 9 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 6.9 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 9 times, most recently in 2024, with northern pike and yellow perch in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Northern pikeOne of the best around15.5per gill net23"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 49 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 49 fish
2024Lengths measured · 80 fish
2017Lengths measured · 124 fish
2017Lengths measured · 77 fish
2012Yellow perchGood numbers10.5per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 70 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 70 fish
2024Lengths measured · 68 fish
2017Lengths measured · 25 fish
2012Lengths measured · 155 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 Little Cascade Lake through the year
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. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops. A 9-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Yellow perch
- Spring
- Perch are draping eggs over flooded cover and weed stems on the shallow flats.
- Early summer
- Perch are spread over sand-grass flats and the first weed edges in loose packs.
- Summer
- Perch are over deeper soft-bottom flats and the basin, on the bottom and in schools. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Perch are roaming the mid-depth flats in loose schools, chasing young-of-year bait while it is still shallow. A 9-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
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 | Yellow perch |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 26" | 9" |
| 2017 | 31" | 8" |
| 2012 | 28" | 8" |
| 2010 | 32" | 9" |
| 2005 | 36" | 9" |
| 2003 | 33" | 8" |
| 1993 | 27" | 10" |
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 · Hardbaits
Weedless Spoon + Trailer (Silver Minnow)
3/8–1/2 oz weedless spoon
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Weighted-EWG Weedless Swimbait
5" paddletail swimbait
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Tungsten Jig + Micro Plastic
1–1.5" micro plastic
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 2024 survey
Little Cascade Lake is a small, 262-acre lake with a maximum depth of 9 ft and is primarily managed for northern pike. Little Cascade Lake is located 15 miles north of Lutsen and access to the lake is moderate. A high clearance vehicle is needed to access the lake from the north off Forest Road 153, otherwise walk in access is available from the east off the Caribou Trail. In 2024, a standard survey was conducted using gillnets and trap nets to assess the current fish community and update information on current management species.
Northern pike catch rates were high and well above management goals. Northern pike ranged from 13.6 to 27.0 inches and averaged 23.0 inches. No trophy northern pike were found, but 40% of the fish exceeded 24.0 inches in the survey. Aging results revealed seven different age classes, with fish taking three years to reach 21.0 inches on average. Anglers looking to target northern pike in the Grand Marais area will have the opportunity to catch both numbers and quality sized northern pike in Little Cascade Lake.
Read the full DNR narrative
Yellow perch catch rates were high and would be of interest to anglers. Yellow perch ranged from 5.2 to 10.0 inches and averaged 6.0 inches. The increased yellow perch abundance observed in 2024 should provide quality forage for northern pike as well as satisfy anglers looking to target yellow perch.
Minnesota Lakes within Cook County continue to be susceptible to aquatic invasive species introductions. Invasive species have the potential to significantly alter fish communities and overall lake health. Anglers should clean watercraft and fishing gear, drain all water, and dispose of unused bait in the trash to prevent accidental introductions to these pristine waters within this part of the state.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Little Cascade Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Little Cascade 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
- US Forest Service access
- DNR access: Carry-in to the north shore of the lake, on the west end, from the end of road off Forest Road 165 (The Grade). This is an informal access with rough road, limited turning space, and parking for two vehicles.
DNR bathymetry
Little Cascade Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Jock Mock Lake · 20 ac · 0.8 mi
- Cascade Lake · 452 ac · 1.2 mi
- Gust Lake · 143 ac · 1.5 mi
- Tomash Lake · 95 ac · 2.4 mi
- Tait Lake · 355 ac · 2.8 mi
- East Pipe Lake · 105 ac · 3 mi
- Kinogami Lake · 111 ac · 3.3 mi
- Lichen Lake · 253 ac · 3.4 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Little Cascade Lake?
Little Cascade Lake reaches 9 ft at its deepest point; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Little Cascade Lake?
Little Cascade Lake covers 262 acres with about 4.5 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Little Cascade Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Little Cascade Lake average 6.9 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Little Cascade Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record northern pike, yellow perch.
Is Little Cascade Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Little Cascade Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Little Cascade Lake have a public access?
Yes. Little Cascade Lake has 2 public access sites, including a US Forest Service access.
How big do northern pike get in Little Cascade Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 26"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1993.
When was Little Cascade Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Little Cascade Lake in 2024, the most recent of 9 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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