Minnesota · Crow Wing County
Ossawinnamakee Lake Fishing guide
Ossawinnamakee Lake is a 711-acre lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, reaching 63 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 20.5 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 2025Fair numbers1.8per gill net11"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 35 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 35 fish
2021Lengths measured · 27 fish
2015Lengths measured · 12 fish
2009Lengths measured · 50 fish
2003Largemouth bassGood numbers64.3per hr (electrofishing)10"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 180 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 180 fish
2021Lengths measured · 131 fish
2015Lengths measured · 17 fish
2009Lengths measured · 341 fish
2003Northern pikeFair numbers8.1per gill net20"Typical34"Biggest
Lengths measured · 100 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 100 fish
2021Lengths measured · 88 fish
2015Lengths measured · 89 fish
2009Lengths measured · 117 fish
2003BluegillJust a few12.3per trap net4"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 168 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 168 fish
2021Lengths measured · 210 fish
2015Lengths measured · 511 fish
2009Lengths measured · 325 fish
2003CrappiePresent0.9per gill net10"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 11 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 11 fish
2021Lengths measured · 2 fish
2015Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 1 fish
2009Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 7 fish
2003Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Rock bassExcellent numbers3.9per seine haul7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 67 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 67 fish
2021Lengths measured · 50 fish
2015Lengths measured · 45 fish
2009Lengths measured · 70 fish
2003Rates 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 Ossawinnamakee Lake through the year
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. At 20.5 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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 63 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.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 20.5 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 63 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 | Largemouth bass | Walleye | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17" | 27" | 34" |
| 2015 | 19" | 30" | 35" |
| 2009 | 16" | 29" | 32" |
| 2003 | 19" | 27" | 34" |
| 1998 | 15" | 27" | 30" |
| 1993 | 15" | 22" | 36" |
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:
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
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 · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
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 | 3,428 fingerlings · 460 yearlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 4,500 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 8,825 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 3,938 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 758 yearlings · 26 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Ossawinnamakee Lake on August 6th, 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 (maximum sampled depth 62.3 feet), the water temperature decreased below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 17.4 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 32.8 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 15.4 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 8.3 degrees C (46.9 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 2023 also indicate suitable oxythermal habitat when the suitable oxythermal habitat layer was 16.4 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
Ossawinnamakee Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Ossawinnamakee 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
- Ossawinnamakee Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Ossawinnamakee Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Strawberry Lake · 20 ac · 0.9 mi
- Kimball Lake · 190 ac · 1.4 mi
- Clear Lake · 226 ac · 1.4 mi
- Grass Lake · 46 ac · 1.7 mi
- Bass Lake · 121 ac · 2 mi
- Little Star Lake · 49 ac · 2.4 mi
- Star Lake · 128 ac · 2.4 mi
- Clamshell Lake · 211 ac · 2.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Ossawinnamakee Lake?
Ossawinnamakee Lake reaches 63 ft at its deepest point; about 32% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Ossawinnamakee Lake?
Ossawinnamakee Lake covers 711 acres with about 13.3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Ossawinnamakee Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Ossawinnamakee Lake average 20.5 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Ossawinnamakee Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Ossawinnamakee Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Ossawinnamakee Lake have a public access?
Yes. Ossawinnamakee Lake has one public access site: Ossawinnamakee Lake (trailer launch).
How big do largemouth bass get in Ossawinnamakee Lake?
The biggest largemouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 17"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1993.
When was Ossawinnamakee Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Ossawinnamakee Lake in 2025, 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 Ossawinnamakee Lake, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open Ossawinnamakee Lake on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report