Minnesota · Douglas County
Maple Lake Fishing guide
Maple Lake covers 831 acres in Douglas County, Minnesota, reaching 78 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 19.2 ft of visibility. 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 2024Good numbers4.1per gill net14"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 58 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 9 fish
2025Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 49 fish
2025Lengths measured · 59 fish
2019Lengths measured · 122 fish
2013Largemouth bassJust a few10per hr (electrofishing)12"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 55 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 6 fish
2025Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 49 fish
2025Lengths measured · 268 fish
2019Lengths measured · 43 fish
2013Smallmouth bassJust a few1.3per hr (electrofishing)16"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 10 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 1 fish
2025Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 9 fish
2025Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 11 fish
2019Northern pikeFair numbers8.9per gill net17"Typical31"Biggest
Lengths measured · 116 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 10 fish
2025Lengths measured · 106 fish
2025Lengths measured · 241 fish
2019Lengths measured · 267 fish
2013BluegillJust a few4.1per trap net7"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 691 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 49 fish
2025Lengths measured · 484 fish
2025Lengths measured · 158 fish
2023Lengths measured · 445 fish
2019CrappieJust a few0.1per trap net10"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 437 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 1 fish
2025Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 295 fish
2025Lengths measured · 124 fish
2024Lengths measured · 17 fish
2023Yellow perchJust a few1.1per gill net7"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 13 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 13 fish
2025Lengths measured · 7 fish
2019Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 20 fish
2013Lengths measured · 14 fish
2009Rates 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 Maple Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 19.2 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 78 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. At 19.2 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 78 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" | 31" | 19" |
| 2019 | 25" | 32" | 20" |
| 2013 | 27" | 29" | 16" |
| 2009 | 27" | 28" | 18" |
| 2003 | 22" | 28" | 16" |
| 2000 | 28" | 31" | 15" |
| 1995 | 21" | 28" | 9" |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | 6,577 yearlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 14,178 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 20,790 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 10,597 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 6,330 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A summer trap net survey was conducted in Maple Lake by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment program staff beginning on August 4, 2025. Twelve trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured 12 species of fish, including two species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Rock Bass and Smallmouth Bass). Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number, while Walleye and Yellow Bullhead comprised a majority by biomass.
The trap net and nearshore data from July 2025 were combined with gill net data from a June 2025 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score.
Read the full DNR narrative
The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Chippewa River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
Maple Lake provides recreational angling opportunities for Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Walleye. Smallmouth Bass are also present in Maple Lake. You can help protect the fish community in Maple Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Maple Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Maple 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
- Maple Lake (E) (trailer launch)
- Maple Lake (N) (trailer launch)
- Maple Lake Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Maple Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Turtle Lake · 218 ac · 1.3 mi
- Union Lake · 107 ac · 3.3 mi
- Lake Reno · 3,809 ac · 3.5 mi
- Lake Andrew · 923 ac · 3.9 mi
- Lake Burgan · 174 ac · 5.3 mi
- Leven Lake · 282 ac · 5.4 mi
- Ann Lake · 370 ac · 5.9 mi
- Villard Lake · 544 ac · 6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Maple Lake?
Maple Lake reaches 78 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 16.1 ft; about 49% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Maple Lake?
Maple Lake covers 831 acres with about 9.1 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Maple Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Maple Lake average 19.2 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Maple Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Maple Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Maple Lake have a public access?
Yes. Maple Lake has 3 public access sites, including Maple Lake (E) (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Maple 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 1995.
When was Maple Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Maple Lake in 2025, the most recent of 17 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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