Minnesota · Ramsey County
Phalen Lake Fishing guide
Phalen Lake is a 198-acre lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota, reaching 91 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 10.4 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 9 times, most recently in 2020, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets. That survey is 6 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Fair numbers1.1per gill net13"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 13 fish
Recent · 2015 + 2020Lengths measured · 2 fish
2020Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 11 fish
2015Lengths measured · 4 fish
2009Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 6 fish
2004Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Northern pikeFair numbers6per gill net22"Typical31"Biggest
Lengths measured · 75 fish
Recent · 2015 + 2020Lengths measured · 14 fish
2020Lengths measured · 61 fish
2015Lengths measured · 16 fish
2009Lengths measured · 38 fish
2004BluegillFair numbers29.4per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 430 fish
Recent · 2015 + 2020Lengths measured · 72 fish
2020Lengths measured · 358 fish
2015Lengths measured · 645 fish
2009Lengths measured · 1329 fish
2004CrappieJust a few1.2per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 30 fish
Recent · 2015 + 2020Lengths measured · 18 fish
2020Lengths measured · 12 fish
2015Lengths measured · 5 fish
2009Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 15 fish
2004Yellow perchGood numbers6.7per gill net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 82 fish
Recent · 2015 + 2020Lengths measured · 3 fish
2020Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 79 fish
2015Lengths measured · 38 fish
2009Lengths measured · 196 fish
2004No recent survey rating.
No recent survey rating.
Rates 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 Phalen Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 10.4 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 91 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. At 10.4 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 91 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 | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 24" | 31" | 8" |
| 2015 | 25" | 31" | 14" |
| 2009 | 27" | 30" | — |
| 2004 | 25" | 32" | 8" |
| 1999 | 23" | 31" | 19" |
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 · 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
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Tiger Muskellunge | 120 fingerlings |
| 2024 | Walleye | 600 yearlings |
| 2023 | Tiger Muskellunge | 120 fingerlings |
| 2021 | White Bass | 1,200 fingerlings |
| 2019 | White Bass | 9,200 fingerlings |
| 2018 | White Bass | 14,000 fingerlings |
| 2017 | White Bass | 11,000 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Tiger Muskellunge | 5,800 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 309 fingerlings · 276 yearlings · 5 adults |
| 2016 | White Bass | 4,000 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2020 survey
Lake Phalen is a 197-acre, class 24 lake located in Ramsey County within the Cities of St. Paul and Maplewood. A regional park surrounds the lake and contains a swimming beach, boat ramp, picnic area, extensive walking and biking trails, and a golf course. Maximum depth is 97 feet, and only 40% of total lake area is littoral (80 acres, 15 feet deep or less). The lake is primarily managed for Walleye, White Bass and Hybrid Muskellunge (Tiger Muskellunge) with Largemouth Bass as secondary management species. Water quality in Lake Phalen was fair during this survey, with sufficient dissolved oxygen down to a depth of 15ft and a secchi depth of 5ft. The purpose of this survey was to assess the success of recent White Bass management, however no White Bass were sampled.
Walleye were sampled at a catch rate of 0.33 fish per gillnet. The two Walleye sampled in 2020 were 17.2 and 20.9 inches long and displayed average growth reaching 17 inches in length by age-5. Northern Pike were sampled at a catch rate of 2.50 per gillnet. The average pike sampled was 25.5 inches long, and individuals up to 31.5 inches were observed. Three Yellow Perch were sampled with the largest fish being 6.18 inches long. Bluegills, averaging 6.0 inches were sampled at a catch rate of of 12.0 per gill net, with the largest at 8.1 inches. Black Crappie catch rate was 3.0 per gill net and slightly below average for lakes similar to Phalen. Black Crappie averaged 6.7 inches, with largest measuring 9.0 inches. Other fish sampled in low abundance were Yellow and Black Bullheads, Pumpkinseed Sunfish and Largemouth Bass.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Phalen Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Phalen 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
- Lake Phalen Regional Park Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
- Lake Phalen Regional Park Shore Fishing Site (fishing pier)
- Round Lake Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Phalen Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Wakefield Lake · 23 ac · 1 mi
- Keller (main bay) Lake · 73 ac · 1.4 mi
- Spoon Lake · 7 ac · 1.9 mi
- Gervais Lake · 235 ac · 2.4 mi
- Beaver Lake · 86 ac · 2.6 mi
- Gervais Mill Pond · 6 ac · 2.8 mi
- McCarron Lake · 73 ac · 3 mi
- Casey Lake · 12 ac · 3.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Phalen Lake?
Phalen Lake reaches 91 ft at its deepest point; about 40% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Phalen Lake?
Phalen Lake covers 198 acres with about 3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Phalen Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Phalen Lake average 10.4 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Phalen Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2020) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, white bass, sauger.
Is Phalen Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked tiger muskellunge in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Phalen Lake have a public access?
Yes. Phalen Lake has 3 public access sites, including Lake Phalen Regional Park Fishing Pier (fishing pier).
How big do walleye get in Phalen 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 1999.
When was Phalen Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Phalen Lake in 2020, the most recent of 9 surveys on record. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.
Page updated .
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