Minnesota · Hubbard County
Mantrap Lake Fishing guide
Mantrap Lake sits in Hubbard County, Minnesota, and covers 1,618 acres, reaching 68 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 12.2 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 13 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
No recent survey rating.
Largemouth bassPresent0.4per gill net7"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 29 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 29 fish
2022Lengths measured · 12 fish
2017Lengths measured · 14 fish
2012Lengths measured · 50 fish
2007No recent survey rating.
Northern pikeFair numbers8.1per gill net23"Typical35"Biggest
Lengths measured · 113 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 113 fish
2022Lengths measured · 373 fish
2017Lengths measured · 86 fish
2012Lengths measured · 132 fish
2007MuskellungeLast stocked 2024Present, stockedPresent and managed by the DNR.
Present and managed by the DNR.
Lengths measured · 134 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 78 fish
2025Lengths measured · 56 fish
2022Lengths measured · 51 fish
2017Lengths measured · 5 fish
2012Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
BluegillJust a few24.9per trap net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 417 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 417 fish
2022Lengths measured · 273 fish
2017Lengths measured · 305 fish
2012Lengths measured · 481 fish
2007CrappieJust a few2.7per trap net8"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 481 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 481 fish
2022Lengths measured · 79 fish
2017Lengths measured · 119 fish
2012Lengths measured · 272 fish
2007Yellow perchExcellent numbers29.3per gill net6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 390 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 390 fish
2022Lengths measured · 397 fish
2017Lengths measured · 475 fish
2012Lengths measured · 474 fish
2007Rock bassGood numbers0.7per trap net6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 15 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 15 fish
2022Lengths measured · 15 fish
2017Lengths measured · 3 fish
2012Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 30 fish
2007Rates 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 Mantrap Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 12.2 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 68 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.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. At 12.2 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 68 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 | Northern pike | Largemouth bass | Muskellunge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 50" |
| 2022 | 35" | 19" | 50" |
| 2017 | 33" | 14" | 50" |
| 2012 | 34" | 13" | 42" |
| 2007 | 34" | 16" | 48" |
| 1999 | 31" | 13" | 37" |
| 1994 | 35" | 14" | 39" |
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:
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
Muskellunge · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Muskellunge · Muskie & pike
Big Paddletail Swimbait
10" hollow or solid-body paddletail swimbait
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 | Muskellunge | 764 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Muskellunge | 756 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Muskellunge | 750 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Muskellunge | 756 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Muskellunge | 765 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
The 2025 target survey consisted of spring trap netting to examine Muskellunge for passive integrated transponder so a population estimate can be made Muskellunge.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Mantrap Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Mantrap 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
- Mantrap Lake (N) (trailer launch)
- Mantrap Lake (S) (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Mantrap Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Bad Axe Lake · 303 ac · 1.8 mi
- Upper Bottle Lake · 459 ac · 2 mi
- Stocking Lake · 102 ac · 2.4 mi
- Dead Lake · 131 ac · 3 mi
- West Crooked Lake · 270 ac · 3.1 mi
- Lower Bottle Lake · 641 ac · 3.3 mi
- Ojibway Lake · 184 ac · 3.3 mi
- Emma Lake · 78 ac · 4 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Mantrap Lake?
Mantrap Lake reaches 68 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 17 ft; about 53% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Mantrap Lake?
Mantrap Lake covers 1,618 acres with about 26.3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Mantrap Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Mantrap Lake average 12.2 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Mantrap Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Mantrap Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked muskellunge in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Mantrap Lake have a public access?
Yes. Mantrap Lake has 2 public access sites, including Mantrap Lake (N) (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Mantrap Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 35"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Mantrap Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Mantrap Lake in 2025, the most recent of 13 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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