Minnesota · Douglas County
Lobster Lake Fishing guide
Lobster Lake is a 1,334-acre lake in Douglas County, Minnesota, reaching 65 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 9.9 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 17 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers3.5per gill net18"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 94 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 36 fish
2025Lengths measured · 4 fish
2022Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 54 fish
2021Lengths measured · 39 fish
2017Largemouth bassJust a few18.2per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 137 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 55 fish
2025Lengths measured · 2 fish
2022Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 80 fish
2021Lengths measured · 69 fish
2017Northern pikeFair numbers9.2per gill net19"Typical32"Biggest
Lengths measured · 245 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 143 fish
2025Lengths measured · 6 fish
2022Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 96 fish
2021Lengths measured · 92 fish
2017MuskellungeLast stocked 2025Present, stockedPresent and managed by the DNR.
Present and managed by the DNR.
Lengths measured · 117 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 62 fish
2023Lengths measured · 54 fish
2022Lengths measured · 1 fish
2021Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 42 fish
2017BluegillFair numbers30.7per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 1656 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 653 fish
2025Lengths measured · 228 fish
2022Lengths measured · 775 fish
2021Lengths measured · 669 fish
2017CrappieJust a few1.6per trap net8"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 215 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 78 fish
2025Lengths measured · 14 fish
2022Lengths measured · 123 fish
2021Lengths measured · 99 fish
2017Yellow perchFair numbers2.3per gill net5"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 56 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 37 fish
2025Lengths measured · 1 fish
2022Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 18 fish
2021Lengths measured · 11 fish
2017Rock bassFair numbers0.3per seine haul8"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 25 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 7 fish
2025Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 2 fish
2022Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 16 fish
2021Lengths measured · 18 fish
2017Rates 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 Lobster 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. 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.
- 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 | 26" | 32" | 19" |
| 2022 | 14" | 26" | 15" |
| 2021 | 26" | 31" | 17" |
| 2017 | 28" | 31" | 17" |
| 2013 | 27" | 31" | 16" |
| 2009 | 26" | 30" | 19" |
| 2005 | 28" | 31" | 16" |
| 2001 | 24" | 32" | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Muskellunge | 70 yearlings |
| 2025 | Walleye | 346,500 fry |
| 2024 | Muskellunge | 345 fingerlings |
| 2024 | Walleye | 7,560 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 19,082 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Muskellunge | 347 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 8,664 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Muskellunge | 347 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 4,235 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 8,000 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Muskellunge | 343 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 22,812 fingerlings |
Stocking records before 2019 omitted.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Lobster Lake is a 1,334 acre lake located about four miles west of Alexandria. The lake's irregular shape with many arms, bays, and islands has over 17 miles of shoreline and offers a rich diversity of fish habitat and fishing opportunities. The lake has a maximum depth of 65 feet and an average depth of 15 feet. Water clarity peaked during the 2021 survey (15 feet) after zebra mussels were discovered in 2016, before moderating to 10.5 feet during this survey. A public access is located on the southwest end of the lake, off Douglas County Highway 27.
Walleye numbers are low (2.7/gill net) and have never been abundant. However, growth is fast. Fish ranged from 9.7 to 26.6 inches, averaging 18.1 inches. Stocking of fingerling, yearling or adult Walleyes has occurred nearly annually for over 20 years, but have failed to result in any measurable benefit to the fishery. For that reason, stocking was changed to fry in 2025.
Read the full DNR narrative
Largemouth Bass relative abundance (35 bass per hour of electrofishing) was higher than the 2021 survey (21 bass per hour). Size structure improvements observed in the last survey have remained, although mean length was only 11.3 inches because of a strong 2023 year class. The largest bass sampled was an impressive 19.4-inch individual.
Bluegill were abundant (35.3/trap net), even for Lobster Lake. Size structure was poor, with a mean length of only 5.6 inches, because most fish were young. The largest Bluegill sampled was 9.0 inches. Black Crappie are abundant (5.3/gill net), especially for a late-July survey, but lower than recent surveys in Lobster Lake. While the crappie density is lower, growth is still slow. Average length was 8.0 inches, and the largest crappie was 11.7 inches.
Northern Pike were sampled at the highest abundance (11.4/gill net) since 1983. While most fish were small (80% under 22 inches; average=20.3 inches), the largest pike sampled was 32.6 inches. Anglers are encouraged to harvest small Northern Pike. New Northern Pike regulations were implemented in 2018 to increase size structure. Lobster Lake is in the North-Central Zone, where all pike from 22 to 26 inches must be released. Anglers can keep 10 pike, but not more than two can be longer than 26 inches. Northern Pike taken by spearing follow the same rules, except one pike may be between 22 and 26 inches, or two larger than 26 inches. For more information see: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/pike/index.html.
A Muskellunge population estimate took place from 2022-2023 (see 2023 targeted survey). Other species sampled included Bowfin (Dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Yellow Bullhead and Yellow Perch.
Zebra mussels were first recorded in 2016. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are easily moved from infested to non-infested waters and can negatively affect lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain water from their boat before leaving the access. For more information regarding aquatic invasive species see the following: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquatic/index.html.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Lobster Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Lobster 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
- Lobster Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Lobster Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Round Lake · 81 ac · 1.3 mi
- Grill Lake · 67 ac · 1.6 mi
- Mill Lake · 451 ac · 1.7 mi
- Crooked Lake · 284 ac · 1.9 mi
- Cork Lake · 101 ac · 2 mi
- Gilbert Lake · 202 ac · 2.1 mi
- Lake Mina · 411 ac · 2.8 mi
- Grant Lake · 177 ac · 3.4 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Lobster Lake?
Lobster Lake reaches 65 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 15 ft; about 52% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Lobster Lake?
Lobster Lake covers 1,334 acres with about 17.3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Lobster Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Lobster Lake average 9.9 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Lobster Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Lobster Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked muskellunge and walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2019.
Does Lobster Lake have a public access?
Yes. Lobster Lake has one public access site: Lobster Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Lobster Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 26"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2001.
When was Lobster Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Lobster Lake in 2025, the most recent of 17 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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