Minnesota · Cass County
Little Wolf Lake Fishing guide
Little Wolf Lake sits in Cass County, Minnesota, and covers 525 acres, reaching 24 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 6.1 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 12 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and muskellunge in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers3.4per gill net16"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 42 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 42 fish
2024Lengths measured · 5 fish
2019Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 47 fish
2019Lengths measured · 85 fish
2014Northern pikeJust a few1.4per gill net25"Typical31"Biggest
Lengths measured · 14 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 14 fish
2024Lengths measured · 1 fish
2019Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 32 fish
2019Lengths measured · 24 fish
2014Present and managed by the DNR.
BluegillJust a few16.8per trap net5"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 206 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 206 fish
2024Lengths measured · 362 fish
2019Lengths measured · 129 fish
2019Lengths measured · 206 fish
2014CrappieJust a few1.1per trap net8"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 129 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 129 fish
2024Lengths measured · 2 fish
2019Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 7 fish
2019Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 48 fish
2014Yellow perchOne of the best around36.6per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 337 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 337 fish
2024Lengths measured · 20 fish
2019Lengths measured · 308 fish
2019Lengths measured · 3230 fish
2014Rock bassGood numbers2.2per gill net8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 25 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 25 fish
2024Lengths measured · 23 fish
2019Lengths measured · 22 fish
2019Lengths measured · 42 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 Little Wolf 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.
- 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.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 25" | 16" | 31" |
| 2019 | 24" | 17" | 36" |
| 2014 | 22" | 17" | 36" |
| 2009 | 25" | 17" | 33" |
| 2004 | 24" | 9" | 28" |
| 1997 | 26" | — | 32" |
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 · Trolling
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
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 | Muskellunge | 244 fingerlings |
| 2025 | Walleye | 1,775 fingerlings · 99 yearlings · 216 adults |
| 2023 | Muskellunge | 244 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 7,834 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 7,560 fingerlings · 18 yearlings · 360 adults |
| 2021 | Muskellunge | 244 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 5,940 fingerlings · 1,995 adults |
| 2019 | Muskellunge | 244 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 12,498 fingerlings · 100 yearlings |
| 2017 | Muskellunge | 244 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 2,000 yearlings · 500 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Little Wolf Lake is a 528-acre lake with a maximum depth of 24 feet located near the town of Cass Lake on the Hubbard/Cass county line. The public access is township-owned and located on the northwest side of the lake. The unimproved ramp results in limited access for larger boats due to landing design, water depths and aquatic vegetation. The lake has a moderately developed shoreline with one active resort. Little Wolf Lake is primarily managed for Walleye and Muskellunge with Bluegill, Black Crappie and Largemouth Bass managed as secondary species.
Walleye are stocked in alternate years and these stockings have been successful at providing consistent Walleye fishing. The 2024 walleye catch rate of just over 3 fish/gillnet declined from the previous survey in 2019 but still remains above average when compared to similar lakes. Walleye captured ranged in length from 8 to 26 inches with an average length of 16 inches. Little Wolf should provide good Walleye fishing in the near future with decent numbers of young fish nearing sizes desired by anglers.
Read the full DNR narrative
Little Wolf Lake historically has had low Northern Pike numbers compared to similar lakes. A total of only 14 pike were captured in the 2024 survey. Those fish ranged in length from 16 to 31 inches and had a good average size of about 24 inches in length.
A total of six muskellunge were captured in the 2024 survey, which is more than typical. Four of those fish were juveniles (age-2 and age-3), recently recruited to the population. In established muskellunge lakes like Little Wolf, it is unusual to see that many young fish in a single survey.
The 2024 Bluegill catch rate of 16.8/trap net was within the range typically found in similar lakes. Bluegill captured had an average size of 6 inches. The Black Crappie catch rate was above average for Little Wolf. Crappie sizes were mostly on the small side, and ranged in length from 4 to 12 inches, averaging just over 8 inches. Seventy-nine percent of crappies in the sample belonged to the 2021 year class (age-3). Little Wolf crappies grow fast, and it appears that the 2021 Black Crappie year class may provide some excellent angling opportunities in the near future.
Other species captured during the survey were Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Yellow Bullhead and Yellow Perch.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Little Wolf Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Little Wolf 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 Wolf Lake, Zoph Park (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Little Wolf Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Wolf Lake · 1,076 ac · 2.1 mi
- Midge Lake · 546 ac · 2.5 mi
- Grace Lake · 860 ac · 3.8 mi
- Andrusia Lake · 1,596 ac · 4.4 mi
- Pike Bay Lake · 4,756 ac · 4.9 mi
- Windigo Lake · 195 ac · 5 mi
- Cass Lake · 15,958 ac · 5.1 mi
- Buck Lake · 360 ac · 7.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Little Wolf Lake?
Little Wolf Lake reaches 24 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 11.9 ft; about 47% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Little Wolf Lake?
Little Wolf Lake covers 525 acres with about 4.3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Little Wolf Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Little Wolf Lake average 6.1 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Little Wolf Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Little Wolf Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked muskellunge and walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Little Wolf Lake have a public access?
Yes. Little Wolf Lake has one public access site: Little Wolf Lake, Zoph Park (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Little Wolf 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 1997.
When was Little Wolf Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Little Wolf Lake in 2024, the most recent of 12 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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