Minnesota · Beltrami County
Movil Lake Fishing guide
Movil Lake sits in Beltrami County, Minnesota, and covers 855 acres, reaching 50 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 9.8 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 13 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers3.8per gill net17"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 52 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 5 fish
2022Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 47 fish
2021Lengths measured · 44 fish
2016Lengths measured · 37 fish
2011Largemouth bassFair numbers39.2per hr (electrofishing)8"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 38 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 15 fish
2022Lengths measured · 23 fish
2021Lengths measured · 83 fish
2016Lengths measured · 23 fish
2011Smallmouth bassJust a few2.9per hr (electrofishing)14"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 19 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 5 fish
2022Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 14 fish
2021Lengths measured · 11 fish
2016Northern pikeFair numbers9.7per gill net21"Typical35"Biggest
Lengths measured · 132 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 8 fish
2022Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 124 fish
2021Lengths measured · 125 fish
2016Lengths measured · 121 fish
2011BluegillJust a few13.7per trap net4"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 428 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 250 fish
2022Lengths measured · 178 fish
2021Lengths measured · 392 fish
2016Lengths measured · 172 fish
2011CrappieJust a few0.2per trap net12"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 20 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 2 fish
2022Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 18 fish
2021Lengths measured · 7 fish
2016Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 7 fish
2011Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Yellow perchExcellent numbers16.2per gill net6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 224 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 24 fish
2022Lengths measured · 200 fish
2021Lengths measured · 45 fish
2016Lengths measured · 155 fish
2011Rock bassElite fishery8.5per seine haul8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 52 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 24 fish
2022Lengths measured · 28 fish
2021Lengths measured · 64 fish
2016Lengths measured · 60 fish
2011Rates 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 Movil 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 50 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 50 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 22" | 17" | 27" |
| 2021 | 25" | 15" | 35" |
| 2016 | 26" | 17" | 36" |
| 2011 | 27" | 17" | 38" |
| 2007 | 23" | 15" | 30" |
| 2003 | 20" | 18" | 35" |
| 1998 | 24" | 18" | 30" |
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 | 504,000 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 513,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 513,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 513,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 516,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Movil Lake on August 4th, 2025, 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. During the summer, 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 below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 18.0 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 21.3 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 3.3 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present 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 18.6 degrees C (65.5 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Cisco at the time of the survey.
Read the full DNR narrative
Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 3 years, between 2011-2023, indicate marginal oxythermal habitat in most years when surveyed, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2011 when the suitable oxythermal habitat layer was 0.4 feet thick. 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
Movil Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Movil 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
- Movil Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Movil Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Turtle Lake · 1,607 ac · 1.8 mi
- Beltrami Lake · 726 ac · 2.3 mi
- Three Island Lake · 730 ac · 3.4 mi
- Little Turtle Lake · 469 ac · 3.4 mi
- Black Lake · 271 ac · 3.5 mi
- Campbell Lake · 463 ac · 4.5 mi
- Big Bass (east basin) Lake · 337 ac · 5.3 mi
- Julia Lake · 511 ac · 5.4 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Movil Lake?
Movil Lake reaches 50 ft at its deepest point; about 60% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Movil Lake?
Movil Lake covers 855 acres with about 9.2 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Movil Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Movil Lake average 9.8 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Movil Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Movil Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Movil Lake have a public access?
Yes. Movil Lake has one public access site: Movil Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Movil 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 Movil Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Movil Lake in 2025, the most recent of 13 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 Movil Lake, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open Movil Lake on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report