Minnesota · Hubbard County
Midge Lake Fishing guide
Midge Lake covers 546 acres in Hubbard County, Minnesota, reaching 24 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 15 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 8 times, most recently in 2021, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Largemouth bassFair numbers30.4per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 58 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 58 fish
2021Lengths measured · 36 fish
2010Lengths measured · 32 fish
2000Northern pikeGood numbers10.3per gill net23"Typical33"Biggest
Lengths measured · 58 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 58 fish
2021Lengths measured · 99 fish
2010Lengths measured · 142 fish
2000BluegillFair numbers41.3per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 394 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 394 fish
2021Lengths measured · 247 fish
2010Lengths measured · 1411 fish
2000CrappieJust a few1.8per trap net6"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 46 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 46 fish
2021Lengths measured · 5 fish
2010Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 116 fish
2000Rates 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 Midge Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 15 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. With 91% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 15 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. With 91% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- 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 | Northern pike | Walleye | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 33" | 24" | 18" |
| 2010 | 36" | 22" | 18" |
| 2000 | 37" | 28" | 15" |
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:
Northern pike · Hardbaits
Weedless Spoon + Trailer (Silver Minnow)
3/8–1/2 oz weedless spoon
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Walleye · Trolling
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Swim Jig + Paddletail Trailer
3.5–4.5" paddletail trailer on a bullet-nosed swim jig
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 | 510,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 503,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2021 survey
Midge Lake is a 545-acre lake located 10 miles southeast of Bemidji in northern Hubbard County. Much of the lake is less than 10 feet deep. There is a DNR public water access with a concrete boat ramp and parking for about six trucks/trailers located on the south shore of the lake. Midge Lake is managed for Bluegill, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Walleye and Northern Pike. Statewide fishing regulations are in effect for all species found in Midge Lake.
Given its proximity to the population center of Bemidji, Midge Lake is a popular fishing destination and receives a fair amount of attention from local anglers. The 2021 survey documented healthy populations of Bluegill, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike in Midge Lake. Walleye are present but in low numbers, so anglers seeking Walleye may want to turn their attention to the many other quality Walleye lakes in the area.
Read the full DNR narrative
Bluegill and Black Crappie numbers were within their historic ranges for Midge Lake and up considerably from the previous survey in 2010. A few Bluegill over 8 inches in length were captured with a good proportion (45%) measuring between 7 and 8 inches. The Black Crappie catch showed fish over 11 inches in length present with good numbers of smaller crappies coming up in the population. This should provide good Bluegill and Black Crappie fishing opportunities in the near term.
Midge Lake has provided good fishing for Northern Pike over the years. Northern Pike up to 32 inches in length were captured in this survey with a good average size of 23 inches. Anglers do well trolling and casting for pike on Midge Lake.
Largemouth Bass are also sought after with good results for many anglers. Bass over 18 inches in length were captured in this survey. As with panfish, good numbers of smaller fish in the population bode well for the future of the lake's bass population.
Other species of fish present in Midge Lake are Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead and Yellow Perch.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Midge Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Midge 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
- Midge Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Midge Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Grace Lake · 860 ac · 1.8 mi
- Little Wolf Lake · 525 ac · 2.5 mi
- Wolf Lake · 1,076 ac · 2.5 mi
- Andrusia Lake · 1,596 ac · 5.6 mi
- Pike Bay Lake · 4,756 ac · 7 mi
- Hart Lake · 226 ac · 7 mi
- Windigo Lake · 195 ac · 7.4 mi
- Cass Lake · 15,958 ac · 7.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Midge Lake?
Midge Lake reaches 24 ft at its deepest point; about 91% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Midge Lake?
Midge Lake covers 546 acres with about 3.6 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Midge Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Midge Lake average 15 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Midge Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2021) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Midge Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2019; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Midge Lake have a public access?
Yes. Midge Lake has one public access site: Midge Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Midge Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 33"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2000.
When was Midge Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Midge Lake in 2021, the most recent of 8 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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