Minnesota · Becker County
Little Toad Lake Fishing guide
Little Toad Lake covers 406 acres in Becker County, Minnesota, reaching 65 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 17.2 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 14 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Fair numbers1per gill net21"Typical31"Biggest
Lengths measured · 12 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 12 fish
2023Lengths measured · 6 fish
2018Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 5 fish
2013Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 53 fish
2008No recent survey rating.
Northern pikeFair numbers8per gill net20"Typical33"Biggest
Lengths measured · 83 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 6 fish
2025Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 77 fish
2023Lengths measured · 82 fish
2018Lengths measured · 66 fish
2013BluegillJust a few15.3per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 289 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 46 fish
2025Lengths measured · 243 fish
2023Lengths measured · 262 fish
2018Lengths measured · 76 fish
2013CrappieJust a few0.4per trap net10"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 20 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 4 fish
2025Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 16 fish
2023Lengths measured · 1 fish
2018Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 33 fish
2013Rock bassGood numbers7.7per hr (electrofishing)8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 28 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 1 fish
2025Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 27 fish
2023Lengths measured · 21 fish
2018Lengths measured · 8 fish
2013Only 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 Little Toad Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 17.2 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 65 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 17.2 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 65 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | 22" | 18" |
| 2023 | 31" | 33" | 14" |
| 2018 | 27" | 33" | 20" |
| 2013 | 27" | 38" | 18" |
| 2008 | 28" | 31" | 17" |
| 2003 | 21" | 32" | 8" |
| 1998 | 24" | 32" | 12" |
| 1993 | 26" | 27" | 15" |
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 · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
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 | 2,185 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 853 fingerlings · 13 adults |
| 2018 | Walleye | 1,739 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 1,335 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Little Toad Lake, was conducted on August 4th-5th, 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 and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 10 sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample seven stations, a 15-foot seine was used to sample two stations, and site conditions (e.g., dense aquatic vegetation) prevented the use of a seine at one station. Nearshore sampling captured 17 species of fish including four species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, and Iowa Darter) and one species that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Black Bullhead).
A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by LBMA Program staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured nine species of fish, including one that is intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Rock Bass). Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Bowfin comprised a majority by biomass. The trap net catch was light overall.
Read the full DNR narrative
The nearshore and trap net were combined with gill net data from a June 2023 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, Fathead Minnow, 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.
The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Ottertail River watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Little Toad Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Little Toad Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Little Toad 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 Toad (trailer launch)
- Deer Lake (carry-in)
DNR bathymetry
Little Toad Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Sieverson Lake · 82 ac · 3.6 mi
- Toad Lake · 1,715 ac · 3.9 mi
- Hungry Lake · 244 ac · 4.4 mi
- Height of Land Lake · 3,795 ac · 4.5 mi
- Hanson Lake · 35 ac · 5.6 mi
- Perch Lake · 48 ac · 6.8 mi
- Island Lake · 1,180 ac · 7 mi
- Cotton Lake · 1,763 ac · 7.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Little Toad Lake?
Little Toad Lake reaches 65 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 23.6 ft; about 26% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Little Toad Lake?
Little Toad Lake covers 406 acres with about 4.2 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Little Toad Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Little Toad Lake average 17.2 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Little Toad Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Little Toad Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Little Toad Lake have a public access?
Yes. Little Toad Lake has 2 public access sites, including Little Toad (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Little Toad Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 31"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1993.
When was Little Toad Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Little Toad Lake in 2025, the most recent of 14 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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