Minnesota · Lake County
Ninemile Lake Fishing guide
Ninemile Lake covers 297 acres in Lake County, Minnesota, reaching 40 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 7.9 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 16 times, most recently in 2019, with walleye, northern pike, bluegill and crappie in the nets. That survey is 7 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2023Good numbers5.5per gill net15"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 87 fish
Recent · 2013 + 2016 + 2019Lengths measured · 57 fish
2019Lengths measured · 13 fish
2016Lengths measured · 17 fish
2013Lengths measured · 83 fish
2004Northern pikeGood numbers11.5per gill net18"Typical42"Biggest
Lengths measured · 193 fish
Recent · 2013 + 2016 + 2019Lengths measured · 70 fish
2019Lengths measured · 8 fish
2016Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 115 fish
2013Lengths measured · 57 fish
2004No recent survey rating.
Yellow perchExcellent numbers29.3per gill net6"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 399 fish
Recent · 2013 + 2016 + 2019Lengths measured · 138 fish
2019Lengths measured · 2 fish
2016Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 259 fish
2013Lengths measured · 279 fish
2004Rates 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 Ninemile 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 40 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 40 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 | Yellow perch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 24" | 29" | 11" |
| 2016 | 14" | 42" | 5" |
| 2013 | 27" | 30" | 10" |
| 2004 | 27" | 26" | 11" |
| 1995 | 29" | 44" | 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 · 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 · 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
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Yellow perch · Live bait
Slip Bobber + Leech
jumbo or large leech
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Walleye | 144,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 200,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 144,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2019 survey
A survey was completed in August 2019 to monitor the zooplankton community in Ninemile Lake. Samples were analyzed to provide baseline information on the zooplankton community composition and abundance and to determine if any aquatic invasive species have become established in the lake.
Ninemile Lake was selected for annual zooplankton sampling in 2015 because it is considered to be at moderate risk of infestation compared to other area lakes. Sampling in 2019 consisted of three vertical plankton tows made with a 50 centimeter diameter net with 80 micron mesh from a depth of 27 feet. Zooplankton community composition was similar to previous surveys completed on the lake. No aquatic invasive species have been sampled since monitoring began.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Ninemile Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Ninemile 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
- Ninemile Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Ninemile Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Echo Lake · 42 ac · 0.9 mi
- Goldeneye Lake · 10 ac · 1.2 mi
- Thunderbird Lake · 97 ac · 1.4 mi
- Crooked Lake · 272 ac · 1.9 mi
- Red Dot Lake · 5 ac · 1.9 mi
- Shoepack Lake · 49 ac · 2.3 mi
- Hare Lake · 48 ac · 2.3 mi
- Moose Lake · 180 ac · 2.8 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Ninemile Lake?
Ninemile Lake reaches 40 ft at its deepest point; about 97% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Ninemile Lake?
Ninemile Lake covers 297 acres with about 5.3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Ninemile Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Ninemile Lake average 7.9 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Ninemile Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2019) record walleye, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Ninemile Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2023; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2018.
Does Ninemile Lake have a public access?
Yes. Ninemile Lake has one public access site: Ninemile Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Ninemile Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 27"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1995.
When was Ninemile Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Ninemile Lake in 2019, the most recent of 16 surveys on record. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.
Page updated .
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