Minnesota · Cass County
Mule Lake Fishing guide
Mule Lake sits in Cass County, Minnesota, and covers 525 acres, reaching 47 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 18.4 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 12 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Fair numbers2.6per gill net19"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 24 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 23 fish
2023Lengths measured · 1 fish
2022Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 27 fish
2018Lengths measured · 22 fish
2015Largemouth bassFair numbers49.2per hr (electrofishing)13"Typical16"Biggest
Lengths measured · 184 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 179 fish
2023Lengths measured · 5 fish
2022Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 41 fish
2018Lengths measured · 1232 fish
2015Smallmouth bassFair numbers8.7per hr (electrofishing)16"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 29 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 29 fish
2023Lengths measured · 3 fish
2018Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 190 fish
2015Lengths measured · 28 fish
2013Northern pikeOne of the best around26.6per gill net16"Typical32"Biggest
Lengths measured · 256 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 246 fish
2023Lengths measured · 10 fish
2022Lengths measured · 232 fish
2018Lengths measured · 154 fish
2015BluegillJust a few22.3per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 492 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 246 fish
2023Lengths measured · 246 fish
2022Lengths measured · 343 fish
2018Lengths measured · 200 fish
2015CrappieJust a few0.9per trap net8"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 58 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 47 fish
2023Lengths measured · 11 fish
2022Lengths measured · 56 fish
2018Lengths measured · 75 fish
2015Yellow perchGood numbers6.8per gill net7"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 65 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 62 fish
2023Lengths measured · 3 fish
2022Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 11 fish
2018Lengths measured · 7 fish
2015Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Rock bassElite fishery21per hr (electrofishing)8"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 73 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 57 fish
2023Lengths measured · 16 fish
2022Lengths measured · 79 fish
2018Lengths measured · 69 fish
2015Rates 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 Mule Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 18.4 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. On a lake that drops to 47 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.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 18.4 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. On a lake that drops to 47 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 32" | 28" | 16" |
| 2022 | 20" | 22" | 13" |
| 2018 | 26" | 21" | 18" |
| 2015 | 32" | 26" | 19" |
| 2013 | 32" | 23" | 19" |
| 2008 | 32" | 24" | 18" |
| 2004 | 33" | 28" | 20" |
| 2001 | 26" | 27" | 20" |
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 · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Trolling
Muskie Trolling (big cranks)
8–10" large diving crankbait rated for the target depth
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
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 | 464,580 fry · 784 yearlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 600,750 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 190 adults |
| 2021 | Walleye | 1,820 yearlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 465 yearlings · 136 adults |
| 2018 | Walleye | 572 fingerlings · 510 yearlings · 155 adults |
| 2016 | Walleye | 93 fingerlings · 548 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2023 survey
Mule Lake is a 525-acre lake with 7.31 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 47 feet located south of Longville, MN. A DNR owned public access is located on the western shore. The DNR has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Mule Lake is in Lake Class 23; lakes in this class are generally deep and clear. Other area lakes in this class include Jack, Ponto, Stony, and Baby. The entire east shore is publicly owned and undeveloped. The lake is primarily managed for Northern Pike, Walleye, and Yellow Perch and secondarily for Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Black Crappie. An experimental catch and release regulation for Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass was modified in 2016 to a 14-20-inch protected slot limit with 1 over 20 inches in possession. The regulation was removed in 2021. Other regulations include an ongoing Walleye possession limit of 3 fish.
Northern Pike catch rates were the highest ever observed with an average length and weight of 16.3 inches and 0.89 pounds. Walleye abundance has remained stable at roughly 3 fish per net and lengths ranged from 15 to 29 inches. Yellow Perch numbers in Mule are low compared to similar lakes, though were higher in 2023 than the previous eight surveys. Smallmouth Bass catch rate in the spring was a record high with fish up to 19 inches long sampled. Largemouth Bass catch rates resembled previous assessments with fish up to 17 inches sampled. Bluegill abundance was moderate, with an average size of 6 inches and over 9 inches sampled. Black Crappie were abundant, with an average length of 8 inches and fish up to 11 inches sampled.
Read the full DNR narrative
Other fish species that anglers can expect to encounter in Mule Lake include Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, and White Sucker.
People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Currently, no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Mule Lake. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Mule Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Mule 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
- Mule Lake (W) (trailer launch)
- Mule Lake (carry-in)
DNR bathymetry
Mule Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Hunter Lake · 182 ac · 1.6 mi
- Wabedo Lake · 1,226 ac · 2.1 mi
- Blackwater Lake · 772 ac · 2.2 mi
- Woman Lake · 5,520 ac · 3.3 mi
- Hay Lake · 364 ac · 3.4 mi
- Little Boy Lake · 1,452 ac · 3.5 mi
- Widow Lake · 198 ac · 3.5 mi
- Island Lake · 184 ac · 3.6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Mule Lake?
Mule Lake reaches 47 ft at its deepest point; about 35% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Mule Lake?
Mule Lake covers 525 acres with about 7.3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Mule Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Mule Lake average 18.4 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Mule Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Mule Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Mule Lake have a public access?
Yes. Mule Lake has 2 public access sites, including Mule Lake (W) (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Mule Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 32"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2001.
When was Mule Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Mule Lake in 2023, the most recent of 12 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 Mule Lake, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open Mule Lake on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report