Minnesota · Cass County
Man Lake Fishing guide
Man Lake sits in Cass County, Minnesota, and covers 491 acres, reaching 93 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 11.9 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 10 times, most recently in 2022, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Northern pikeJust a few4.7per gill net22"Typical35"Biggest
Lengths measured · 45 fish
Recent · 2019Lengths measured · 45 fish
2019Lengths measured · 52 fish
2013Lengths measured · 51 fish
2008Lengths measured · 53 fish
1998Last recorded in the 2019 survey and not seen since.
BluegillFair numbers26.2per trap net4"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 236 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 236 fish
2022Lengths measured · 128 fish
2019Lengths measured · 150 fish
2013Lengths measured · 74 fish
2008CrappieJust a few0.3per trap net12"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 10 fish
Recent · 2019Lengths measured · 10 fish
2019Lengths measured · 23 fish
2013Lengths measured · 13 fish
2008Lengths measured · 10 fish
1998Rock bassOne of the best around4per trap net5"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 36 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 36 fish
2022Lengths measured · 69 fish
2019Lengths measured · 85 fish
2013Lengths measured · 137 fish
2008Rates 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 Man Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 11.9 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 93 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.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. At 11.9 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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. On a lake that drops to 93 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- 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 | Smallmouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 26" | 7" | — |
| 2019 | 30" | 18" | 20" |
| 2013 | 30" | 19" | 20" |
| 2008 | 29" | 15" | 20" |
| 1998 | 32" | 17" | 19" |
| 1993 | 26" | 15" | 19" |
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 · 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
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Smallmouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Tail Spinner
Compact lead body with a free-spinning blade on the tail
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 | 698 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 1,440 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 512 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 675 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 1,575 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2022 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Man Lake was conducted on July 5-7, 2022, by DNR 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 all sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample nine stations and site conditions prevented the use of seines at one station due to thick submergent and emergent vegetation. Nearshore sampling captured 15 species of fish including five species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Iowa Darter, Mottled Sculpin, Rock Bass, and Smallmouth Bass) and none that are tolerant of disturbance.
A summer trap net survey was also conducted by IBI Program staff on July 5-6, 2022. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured six species of fish, including one that is intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Rock Bass). Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number and by biomass.
Read the full DNR narrative
The nearshore and trap net were combined with gill net data from a 2019 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., Iowa Darter, Banded Killifish, and Smallmouth Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead, Common Carp, Fathead Minnow). 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.
Results from this survey indicate that the fish community in Man Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score that meets the exceptional use threshold determined for similar lakes. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Leech Lake River Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Man Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Man 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
- Public access: channel from Baby Lake
DNR bathymetry
Man Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- McKeown Lake · 168 ac · 0.9 mi
- Barnum Lake · 151 ac · 1.1 mi
- Baby Lake · 737 ac · 1.2 mi
- Child Lake · 285 ac · 1.6 mi
- Moccasin Lake · 272 ac · 1.8 mi
- Kid Lake · 168 ac · 2.3 mi
- South Stocking Lake · 46 ac · 2.9 mi
- Woman Lake · 5,520 ac · 3.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Man Lake?
Man Lake reaches 93 ft at its deepest point; about 9% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Man Lake?
Man Lake covers 491 acres with about 4.5 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Man Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Man Lake average 11.9 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Man Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2022) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Man Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Man Lake have a public access?
Yes. Man Lake has one public access site: Public access (channel from Baby Lake).
How big do walleye get in Man 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 1993.
When was Man Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Man Lake in 2022, the most recent of 10 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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