Minnesota · Crow Wing County
Mary Lake Fishing guide
Mary Lake covers 413 acres in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, reaching 34 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 3.5 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 7 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers1.5per gill net19"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 14 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2024Lengths measured · 4 fish
2024Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 10 fish
2023Lengths measured · 7 fish
2012Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 11 fish
1998Northern pikeJust a few3per gill net24"Typical32"Biggest
Lengths measured · 25 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2024Lengths measured · 3 fish
2024Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 22 fish
2023Lengths measured · 7 fish
2012Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 17 fish
1998BluegillJust a few4.8per trap net5"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 86 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2024Lengths measured · 31 fish
2024Lengths measured · 55 fish
2023Lengths measured · 17 fish
2012Lengths measured · 73 fish
1998CrappieJust a few3.1per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 193 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2024Lengths measured · 29 fish
2024Lengths measured · 164 fish
2023Lengths measured · 209 fish
2012Lengths measured · 64 fish
1998Yellow perchFair numbers3.5per gill net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 28 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2024Lengths measured · 5 fish
2024Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 23 fish
2023Lengths measured · 36 fish
2012Lengths measured · 111 fish
1998Rates 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 Mary Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 3.5 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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. In 3.5 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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 | 17" | 19" | 29" |
| 2023 | 25" | 19" | 32" |
| 2012 | 29" | 17" | 40" |
| 1998 | 24" | 15" | 32" |
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 | 1,890 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 2,160 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 1,800 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 1,440 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Mary Lake was conducted beginning on July 1, 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 all 10 sampling stations. A 50-foot seine was used to sample 7 stations and a 15-foot seine was used at 3 stations. Nearshore sampling captured 10 species of fish, including 2 species that are intolerant of disturbance (Blacknose Shiner and Rock Bass).
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 14 species of fish, including 1 species that is intolerant of disturbance (Rock Bass). Bluegill and Black Crappie comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Bowfin comprised a majority by biomass. Northern Pike, Walleye, White sucker, and Yellow Bullhead were few in number, but each species comprised a significant proportion of the trap net biomass.
Read the full DNR narrative
The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from a survey conducted in July of 2023 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., Green Sunfish and Common Carp). 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 provide evidence that the fish community in Mary Lake is adversely impacted by stressors, as indicated by an FIBI score near the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Pine River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
Mary Lake supports several popular game fish species, including Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Walleye. These species can make for good angling opportunities. However, the sunfish population in Mary Lake is relatively low and with poor size structure. Additionally, shiners and darters were collected in low numbers in the nearshore survey. These findings may be cause for concern. You can help protect the fishery in Mary Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Mary Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Mary 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: Access via the Little Pine River on the northeast end of Emily Lake.
DNR bathymetry
Mary Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Emily Lake · 721 ac · 1.7 mi
- Ruth Lake · 599 ac · 1.7 mi
- Trout Lake · 117 ac · 3 mi
- Island Lake · 240 ac · 3.9 mi
- Lows Lake · 302 ac · 4.2 mi
- Blue Lake · 177 ac · 4.3 mi
- Smokey Hollow Lake · 126 ac · 4.5 mi
- Pickerel Lake · 117 ac · 5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Mary Lake?
Mary Lake reaches 34 ft at its deepest point; about 31% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Mary Lake?
Mary Lake covers 413 acres with about 4.7 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Mary Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Mary Lake average 3.5 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Mary Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Mary Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Mary Lake have a public access?
Yes. Mary Lake has one public access site: Public access (Access via the Little Pine River on the northeast end of Emily Lake.).
How big do walleye get in Mary Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 25"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1998.
When was Mary Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Mary Lake in 2024, the most recent of 7 surveys on record.
Page updated .
Featured guide spot
Your guide service here
One featured guide per lake, with your photo, your writeup and a link straight to your booking page. Free through December 31, 2026.
Then $20 a month from January. Cancel any time.
The live map adds today's conditions and ranked spots for Mary Lake, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open Mary Lake on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report