Minnesota · Cass County
Lower Sucker Lake Fishing guide
Lower Sucker Lake covers 592 acres in Cass County, Minnesota, reaching 35 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 4.5 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 8 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Excellent numbers8per gill net15"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 51 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 3 fish
2024Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 48 fish
2021Lengths measured · 23 fish
2016Lengths measured · 15 fish
2011Northern pikeJust a few5.8per gill net21"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 42 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 5 fish
2024Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 37 fish
2021Lengths measured · 102 fish
2016Lengths measured · 78 fish
2011BluegillJust a few0.9per trap net8"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 22 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 7 fish
2024Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 15 fish
2021Lengths measured · 20 fish
2016Lengths measured · 21 fish
2011CrappieJust a few0.2per trap net12"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 11 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 1 fish
2024Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 10 fish
2021Lengths measured · 56 fish
2016Lengths measured · 38 fish
2011Yellow perchOne of the best around71.7per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 478 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 35 fish
2024Lengths measured · 443 fish
2021Lengths measured · 598 fish
2016Lengths measured · 479 fish
2011No recent survey rating.
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 Lower Sucker 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 | 23" | — | 19" |
| 2021 | 26" | 18" | 27" |
| 2016 | 25" | 18" | 29" |
| 2011 | 28" | 17" | 30" |
| 2004 | 23" | 19" | 28" |
| 1999 | 25" | 8" | 25" |
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
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
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 | Walleye | 301,000 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 301,455 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 293,892 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 152,320 fry · 11,745 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 302,625 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 630 yearlings · 440 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Lower Sucker Lake, which is located wholly within the Leech Lake Reservation, was conducted on July 1-3, 2024, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) 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 14 sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample five stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at seven stations. Two stations were not seined due to dense aquatic vegetation and soft substrate. Nearshore sampling captured 19 species of fish including five species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Mimic Shiner) and two that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Black Bullhead and Fathead Minnow).
A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by IBI Program staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured ten species of fish but none that are intolerant of disturbance. Yellow Perch comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Bowfin and White Sucker comprised a majority by biomass.
Read the full DNR narrative
The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from a June 2021 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., Fathead Minnow and Black Bullhead). 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.
You can help protect the fish community in Lower Sucker Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Lower Sucker Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Lower Sucker 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
- Lower Sucker Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Lower Sucker Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Middle Sucker Lake · 286 ac · 1.3 mi
- Upper Sucker Lake · 113 ac · 2.3 mi
- Portage Lake · 1,539 ac · 5.4 mi
- Thirteen Lake · 555 ac · 6.5 mi
- Pike Bay Lake · 4,756 ac · 7.4 mi
- Welch Lake · 196 ac · 8.1 mi
- Portage Lake · 361 ac · 8.8 mi
- Windigo Lake · 195 ac · 9.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Lower Sucker Lake?
Lower Sucker Lake reaches 35 ft at its deepest point; about 51% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Lower Sucker Lake?
Lower Sucker Lake covers 592 acres with about 4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Lower Sucker Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Lower Sucker Lake average 4.5 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Lower Sucker Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Lower Sucker Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Lower Sucker Lake have a public access?
Yes. Lower Sucker Lake has one public access site: Lower Sucker Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Lower Sucker 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 1999.
When was Lower Sucker Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Lower Sucker Lake in 2024, the most recent of 8 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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