Minnesota · Crow Wing County
Mitchell Lake Fishing guide
Mitchell Lake is a 429-acre lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, reaching 78 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 8.4 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 12 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers1.2per gill net12"Typical21"Biggest
Lengths measured · 11 fish
Recent · 2020Lengths measured · 11 fish
2020Lengths measured · 61 fish
2014Lengths measured · 2 fish
2008Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 17 fish
2008Northern pikeGood numbers13per gill net21"Typical35"Biggest
Lengths measured · 128 fish
Recent · 2020Lengths measured · 128 fish
2020Lengths measured · 67 fish
2014Lengths measured · 113 fish
2008Lengths measured · 71 fish
2008BluegillJust a few19.2per trap net5"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 173 fish
Recent · 2020Lengths measured · 173 fish
2020Lengths measured · 23 fish
2014Lengths measured · 265 fish
2008Lengths measured · 123 fish
2001CrappieJust a few2.7per trap net5"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 27 fish
Recent · 2020Lengths measured · 27 fish
2020Lengths measured · 18 fish
2014Lengths measured · 53 fish
2008Lengths measured · 12 fish
2001Yellow perchJust a few0.8per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 14 fish
Recent · 2020Lengths measured · 14 fish
2020Lengths measured · 6 fish
2014Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 52 fish
2008Lengths measured · 49 fish
2001Rock bassExcellent numbers1.6per trap net7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 30 fish
Recent · 2020Lengths measured · 30 fish
2020Lengths measured · 5 fish
2014Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 19 fish
2008Lengths measured · 12 fish
2001Rates 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 Mitchell 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 78 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.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth.
- 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. On a lake that drops to 78 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
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 | Northern pike | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 21" | 35" | 17" |
| 2014 | 29" | 35" | 19" |
| 2008 | 25" | 36" | 13" |
| 2001 | 25" | 38" | 17" |
| 1996 | 29" | 29" | 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:
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 · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
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 | 118,000 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 118,000 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 118,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 118,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 118,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 118,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 118,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 118,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles were collected in the deepest basin in Mitchell Lake on August 2, 2024, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin, the water temperature decreased to below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 14.8 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 12.5 feet at the time of sampling. The water column did not contain a layer of water with sufficient temperature and dissolved oxygen for Cisco.
Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 23.7 degrees C (74.6 degrees F). TDO3 values warmer than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were unsuitable for Cisco at the time of this survey. A report of approximately 30 dead Cisco on July 22, 2024, corroborate these findings.
Read the full DNR narrative
Data collected by the MNDNR during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress in 2022 and 2023 indicated suitable oxythermal habitat during those years. Other noteworthy information includes a repeat survey completed by MNDNR staff on August 8, 2024, which indicated 3.1 feet of suitable habitat at that time compared to no suitable habitat during this August 2 survey. Local weather conditions between sampling events likely contributed to the increase in oxythermal habitat observed during the August 8 survey. Including data from all available surveys, the least favorable conditions as measured by TDO3 were recorded on August 2, 2024. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Mitchell Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Mitchell 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
- Mitchell Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Mitchell Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Eagle Lake · 350 ac · 1.5 mi
- Kego Lake · 296 ac · 1.9 mi
- Butterfield Lake · 194 ac · 2.2 mi
- Blue Lake · 177 ac · 2.5 mi
- East Fox Lake · 241 ac · 2.6 mi
- Allen Lake · 45 ac · 2.8 mi
- West Fox Lake · 449 ac · 3.1 mi
- Pavelgrit Lake · 18 ac · 3.8 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Mitchell Lake?
Mitchell Lake reaches 78 ft at its deepest point; about 28% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Mitchell Lake?
Mitchell Lake covers 429 acres with about 5 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Mitchell Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Mitchell Lake average 8.4 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Mitchell Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Mitchell Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Mitchell Lake have a public access?
Yes. Mitchell Lake has one public access site: Mitchell Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Mitchell Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 21"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1996.
When was Mitchell Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Mitchell Lake in 2024, the most recent of 12 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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