Minnesota · Beltrami County
Medicine Lake Fishing guide
Medicine Lake covers 461 acres in Beltrami County, Minnesota, reaching 44 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 7 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 10 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Fair numbers1.8per gill net16"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 23 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2024Lengths measured · 4 fish
2024Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 19 fish
2023Lengths measured · 44 fish
2018Lengths measured · 51 fish
2013Northern pikeJust a few3.8per gill net21"Typical32"Biggest
Lengths measured · 52 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2024Lengths measured · 6 fish
2024Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 46 fish
2023Lengths measured · 62 fish
2018Lengths measured · 106 fish
2013BluegillJust a few1.5per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 49 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2024Lengths measured · 10 fish
2024Lengths measured · 39 fish
2023Lengths measured · 43 fish
2018Lengths measured · 61 fish
2013CrappieJust a few1per trap net7"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 33 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2024Lengths measured · 17 fish
2024Lengths measured · 16 fish
2023Lengths measured · 15 fish
2018Lengths measured · 45 fish
2013Yellow perchFair numbers1.8per gill net6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 18 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 18 fish
2023Lengths measured · 129 fish
2018Lengths measured · 99 fish
2013Lengths measured · 99 fish
2003No recent survey rating.
Rates 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 Medicine Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- 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 44 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.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn.
- 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 44 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 | Walleye | Largemouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 25" | 18" | 26" |
| 2023 | 19" | 17" | 32" |
| 2018 | 27" | 18" | 36" |
| 2013 | 28" | 15" | 34" |
| 2003 | 29" | 19" | 30" |
| 1998 | 27" | 19" | 31" |
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
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | 8,370 fingerlings · 224 yearlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 12,552 fingerlings · 39 adults |
| 2021 | Walleye | 236 adults |
| 2020 | Walleye | 3,567 yearlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 21,864 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 3,300 yearlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 496 fingerlings · 2,656 yearlings · 105 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Minnesota DNR LBMA staff delineated the floating leaf and emergent aquatic vegetation of Medicine Lake on August 25th, 2025, following the protocols listed in the MN DNR Lake Plant Mapping Manual. There was a total of 140.85 acres of floating and emergent plants mapped. This consisted of 70.28 acres of emergent dominated plant communities and 70.57 acres of floating leaf plant communities. The following taxa were noted during the survey: bulrush (round-stem group) (Schoenoplectus spp.), burreed Emergent Group (Sparganium spp.), cattail (Typha spp.), common reedgrass (Phragmites australis), floating pondweed (Potamogeton natans), sedge (Carex spp.), spikerush (Eleocharis spp.), water horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile), white waterlily (Nymphaea odorata), wild rice (Zizania palustris), and yellow waterlily (Nuphar variegata).
Minnesota DNR LBMA staff also conducted an assessment of lakeshore development on Medicine Lake on 8/25/2026, following the Shoreline Development Census survey protocol. The boat-based Shoreline Census survey assesses sections of the shoreline and classifies them as either 'Natural' or 'Altered', with added generic habitat type descriptions (Vegetated, Beach, Rock, Riprap, Mowed). A total of 4.33 miles of shoreline was assessed with 3.2% (0.14 mi) being noted as 'Altered' and 97% (4.19 mi) noted as 'Natural'. The most common 'Altered' class of shoreline was ‘Mowed to Edge' accounting for 3% (0.13 mi) of the total shoreline.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Medicine Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Medicine 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
- Medicine Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Medicine Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Sandy Lake · 261 ac · 3.2 mi
- Gull Lake · 2,256 ac · 4 mi
- Blackduck Lake · 2,711 ac · 5.8 mi
- Black Lake · 271 ac · 7.4 mi
- Three Island Lake · 730 ac · 7.9 mi
- Julia Lake · 511 ac · 8.2 mi
- Little Turtle Lake · 469 ac · 9.5 mi
- Turtle Lake · 1,607 ac · 9.7 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Medicine Lake?
Medicine Lake reaches 44 ft at its deepest point; about 67% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Medicine Lake?
Medicine Lake covers 461 acres with about 4.3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Medicine Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Medicine Lake average 7 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Medicine Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Medicine Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Medicine Lake have a public access?
Yes. Medicine Lake has one public access site: Medicine Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Medicine 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 Medicine Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Medicine Lake in 2025, the most recent of 10 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 Medicine Lake, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open Medicine Lake on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report