Minnesota · St. Louis County
Myrtle Lake Fishing guide
Myrtle Lake sits in St. Louis County, Minnesota, and covers 876 acres, reaching 20 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 7.5 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 12 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Fair numbers3per gill net14"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 28 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 28 fish
2022Lengths measured · 22 fish
2017Lengths measured · 54 fish
2012Lengths measured · 70 fish
2007Northern pikeJust a few5.3per gill net21"Typical36"Biggest
Lengths measured · 53 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 53 fish
2022Lengths measured · 66 fish
2017Lengths measured · 94 fish
2012Lengths measured · 115 fish
2007BluegillJust a few4.1per trap net7"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 101 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 101 fish
2022Lengths measured · 224 fish
2017Lengths measured · 74 fish
2012Lengths measured · 36 fish
2007CrappieJust a few4.4per trap net5"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 131 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 131 fish
2022Lengths measured · 475 fish
2017Lengths measured · 330 fish
2012Lengths measured · 252 fish
2007Yellow perchGood numbers10.6per gill net7"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 99 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 99 fish
2022Lengths measured · 426 fish
2017Lengths measured · 134 fish
2012Lengths measured · 324 fish
2007Rates 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 Myrtle 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. With 98% 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.
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. With 98% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- 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 | Smallmouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 26" | 12" | 16" |
| 2017 | 27" | 10" | 19" |
| 2012 | 21" | 17" | 17" |
| 2007 | 29" | 16" | 17" |
| 2005 | 26" | 14" | — |
| 2002 | 29" | 13" | 11" |
| 1997 | 30" | 17" | 15" |
| 1994 | 24" | 11" | 13" |
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 · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Flipping/Punching Creature Bait
4" beaver/creature-style bait
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Ned Rig
2.75" finesse stickbait or craw-style Ned bait
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
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 | 14,952 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 17,301 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 431,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 431,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 900,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 36,174 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Myrtle Lake was conducted on July 21-23, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment Program staff. Nearshore sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing, mini-fyke nets, and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing and 1/8" mesh mini-fyke net sampling were completed at fourteen sampling stations. Additionally, a 50-foot seine was used to sample four stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at five stations. Five stations were not seined due to rocky shorelines, steep drop-offs, soft sediment, and/or vegetation. Nearshore sampling captured eighteen species of fish, including three species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Iowa Darter, Rock Bass, and Smallmouth Bass) and one that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Black Bullhead).
The nearshore data along with gill net and standard trap net data will be used to develop fish community models for Minnesota's Boreal Shield lakes, which will be used to measure lake health in this region. These models may function similarly to fish-based index of biological integrity (FIBI) models developed for lakes across much of the rest of the state. For additional information, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. You can help protect the fish community in Myrtle Lake by maintaining natural shorelines and preventing the spread of invasive species.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Myrtle Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Myrtle 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
- Myrtle Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Myrtle Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Ban Lake · 389 ac · 2.7 mi
- Clear Lake · 145 ac · 3.3 mi
- Bell Lake · 110 ac · 4 mi
- Kjostad Lake · 437 ac · 4.1 mi
- Elbow Lake · 1,695 ac · 4.9 mi
- Moose Lake · 929 ac · 5.1 mi
- Winchester Lake · 319 ac · 6.2 mi
- Susan Lake · 276 ac · 6.6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Myrtle Lake?
Myrtle Lake reaches 20 ft at its deepest point; about 98% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Myrtle Lake?
Myrtle Lake covers 876 acres with about 8.3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Myrtle Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Myrtle Lake average 7.5 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Myrtle Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Myrtle Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Myrtle Lake have a public access?
Yes. Myrtle Lake has one public access site: Myrtle Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Myrtle Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 26"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Myrtle Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Myrtle Lake in 2025, the most recent of 12 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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