Minnesota · Itasca County
Maple Lake Fishing guide
Maple Lake sits in Itasca County, Minnesota, and covers 255 acres, reaching 39 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 14 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 9 times, most recently in 2021, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2019Fair numbers2.3per gill net18"Typical23"Biggest
Lengths measured · 14 fish
Recent · 2020Lengths measured · 14 fish
2020Lengths measured · 27 fish
2012Lengths measured · 16 fish
2004Lengths measured · 21 fish
1997Northern pikeJust a few5.8per gill net20"Typical37"Biggest
Lengths measured · 39 fish
Recent · 2020Lengths measured · 39 fish
2020Lengths measured · 56 fish
2012Lengths measured · 44 fish
2004Lengths measured · 65 fish
1997CrappieJust a few0.6per trap net9"Typical14"Biggest
Lengths measured · 11 fish
Recent · 2020Lengths measured · 11 fish
2020Lengths measured · 5 fish
2012Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 21 fish
2004Lengths measured · 11 fish
1997Rates 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 14 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.
- 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 14 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.
- 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 | Bluegill |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 23" | 17" | 8" |
| 2012 | 25" | 20" | 9" |
| 2004 | 25" | 14" | 8" |
| 1997 | 23" | 13" | 8" |
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
Bluegill · Soft plastics
Tungsten Jig + Micro Plastic
1–1.5" micro plastic
Bluegill · Jigs & bladed
Beetle Spin
1.5–2" curly-tail grub trailer on a small in-line spinner jighead
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Walleye | 2,600 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 2,094 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2021 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Maple Lake was conducted on July 21-22, 2021, 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 10 sampling stations, but three stations were sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample three stations, a 15-foot seine was used at two stations, and site conditions prevented the use of seines at five stations. Nearshore sampling captured seven species of fish including one species that is intolerant of disturbance (Rock Bass) and no species that are tolerant of disturbance.
The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from an August 2020 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 (Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (Green Sunfish). 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.
Read the full DNR narrative
Results from this survey indicate that the fish community in Maple Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Big Fork River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
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 (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Maple Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Bello Lake · 527 ac · 1.3 mi
- Hatch Lake · 226 ac · 1.5 mi
- Turtle Lake · 2,126 ac · 1.6 mi
- Horseshoe Lake · 260 ac · 1.9 mi
- Big Too Much Lake · 292 ac · 3 mi
- Little Turtle Lake · 492 ac · 3.4 mi
- Long Lake · 155 ac · 3.5 mi
- Johnson Lake · 304 ac · 3.6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Maple Lake?
Maple Lake reaches 39 ft at its deepest point; about 30% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Maple Lake?
Maple Lake covers 255 acres with about 3.5 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Maple Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Maple Lake average 14 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Maple Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2021) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Maple Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2019; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Maple Lake have a public access?
Yes. Maple Lake has one public access site: Maple Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Maple Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 23"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1997.
When was Maple Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Maple Lake in 2021, the most recent of 9 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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