Minnesota · Becker County
Maud Lake Fishing guide
Maud Lake covers 517 acres in Becker County, Minnesota, reaching 32 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 14.1 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 11 times, most recently in 2021, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers1.6per gill net21"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 16 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 16 fish
2021Lengths measured · 15 fish
2016Lengths measured · 19 fish
2010Lengths measured · 14 fish
2004Largemouth bassGood numbers50.2per hr (electrofishing)12"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 139 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 139 fish
2021Lengths measured · 208 fish
2016Lengths measured · 90 fish
2010Lengths measured · 47 fish
2004Northern pikeJust a few5.1per gill net16"Typical36"Biggest
Lengths measured · 50 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 50 fish
2021Lengths measured · 74 fish
2016Lengths measured · 93 fish
2010Lengths measured · 86 fish
2004BluegillJust a few21.4per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 257 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 257 fish
2021Lengths measured · 459 fish
2016Lengths measured · 265 fish
2010Lengths measured · 516 fish
2004CrappieJust a few0.4per trap net9"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 18 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 18 fish
2021Lengths measured · 92 fish
2016Lengths measured · 41 fish
2010Lengths measured · 12 fish
2004Rock bassGood numbers1.2per trap net5"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 13 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 13 fish
2021Lengths measured · 6 fish
2010Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 19 fish
2004Lengths measured · 25 fish
1999Rates 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 Maud Lake through the year
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. At 14.1 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.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 14.1 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.
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 | Largemouth bass | Walleye | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19" | 25" | 36" |
| 2016 | 19" | 26" | 31" |
| 2010 | 17" | 27" | 35" |
| 2004 | 16" | 28" | 35" |
| 1999 | 20" | 28" | 29" |
| 1994 | 14" | 30" | 37" |
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:
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
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 · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
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 | 300,000 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 301,533 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 366,535 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 187,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 300,000 fry · 7,707 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 300,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 300,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2021 survey
Maud Lake is a 517-acre lake located in southwestern Becker County eleven miles southwest of Detroit Lakes. Maud Lake is considered moderately productive and possesses 300 littoral acres. The lake's shoreline is highly developed along its southern and northern shores. Special regulations exist for sunfish, Black Crappie, and Largemouth Bass. Zebra mussels were discovered in the lake in 2016.
Catch rates of Walleye in Maud Lake have remained low, despite stocking. The average catch rate of Walleye was about two per gill net in 2021, equivalent to the lake's historical average. Sampled Walleye ranged in length from 18.7 to 25.3 inches, averaging 21.5 inches long.
Read the full DNR narrative
Northern Pike catch rates have remained relatively stable in Maud Lake. The average catch rate of Northern Pike in 2021 was about five pike per gill net. Sampled Northern Pike ranged in length from 9.7 to 36.0 inches, averaging 18.6 inches long. Of the sampled pike, 16% were 24 inches or longer.
Bluegill abundance was below average in 2021. Trap nets caught an average of 21 Bluegill per net. Sampled Bluegill ranged in length from 3.3 to 8.3 inches, averaging 6.3 inches long. On average, Bluegill reached a length of 4.5 inches by age five. The last two lake surveys (2016 and 2021) show evidence of improved Bluegill size, based on increased numbers of Bluegill 8 inches or longer being caught.
Black Crappie catch rates have stayed low (less than 2 crappie per trap net) in Maud Lake. In 2021, a total of 18 crappie were caught. Sampled Black Crappie ranged in length from 8.0 to 11.2 inches.
Largemouth Bass abundance in 2021 was similar to 2016. Sampled Largemouth Bass in 2021 ranged in length from 8.2 to 19.8 inches, averaging 12.7 inches long. Aging indicated it takes four years for Largemouth Bass reach a length of eight inches.
Additional species sampled in 2021 included Yellow Perch, Yellow Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Bowfin, hybrid sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Common Carp, and White Sucker. Yellow Bullhead were abundant in catch but only one Common Carp was caught.
Anglers can help maintain and improve Maud Lake's fishery by harvesting small-moderately sized fish for eating and releasing larger fish, as well as taking precautions to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Shoreline owners can help to improve water quality and fish habit in the lake by maintaining shoreline buffer zones and leaving native aquatic vegetation stands intact.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Maud Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Maud 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
- Maud Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Maud Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Eunice Lake · 378 ac · 1.1 mi
- Pearl Lake · 280 ac · 3 mi
- Big Cormorant Lake · 3,657 ac · 3.2 mi
- Little Pelican Lake · 366 ac · 3.5 mi
- Pelican Lake · 3,962 ac · 3.5 mi
- Leif Lake · 521 ac · 4.2 mi
- Melissa Lake · 1,850 ac · 4.2 mi
- Little Cormorant Lake · 1,067 ac · 4.4 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Maud Lake?
Maud Lake reaches 32 ft at its deepest point; about 58% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Maud Lake?
Maud Lake covers 517 acres with about 4.2 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Maud Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Maud Lake average 14.1 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Maud Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2021) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Maud Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Maud Lake have a public access?
Yes. Maud Lake has one public access site: Maud Lake (trailer launch).
How big do largemouth bass get in Maud Lake?
The biggest largemouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 19"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Maud Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Maud Lake in 2021, the most recent of 11 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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