Minnesota · Aitkin County
Pine Lake Fishing guide
Pine Lake sits in Aitkin County, Minnesota, and covers 378 acres, reaching 28 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 7.3 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 11 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers1per gill net18"Typical33"Biggest
Lengths measured · 15 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 6 fish
2025Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 30 fish
2025Lengths measured · 24 fish
2023Lengths measured · 9 fish
2022Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Largemouth bassJust a few14.9per hr (electrofishing)15"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 30 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 1 fish
2025Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 29 fish
2022Lengths measured · 33 fish
2014Lengths measured · 27 fish
2009Northern pikeJust a few3.6per gill net24"Typical37"Biggest
Lengths measured · 41 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 3 fish
2025Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 38 fish
2022Lengths measured · 21 fish
2014Lengths measured · 22 fish
2009BluegillJust a few10.9per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 238 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 96 fish
2025Lengths measured · 142 fish
2022Lengths measured · 136 fish
2014Lengths measured · 117 fish
2009CrappieJust a few1.6per trap net8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 31 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 17 fish
2025Lengths measured · 14 fish
2022Lengths measured · 49 fish
2014Lengths measured · 65 fish
2009Yellow perchExcellent numbers27.9per gill net6"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 321 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 9 fish
2025Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 312 fish
2022Lengths measured · 228 fish
2014Lengths measured · 260 fish
2009Rates 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 Pine 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.
- 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.
- 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 | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24" | 6" | 27" |
| 2023 | 12" | — | — |
| 2022 | 33" | 19" | 37" |
| 2014 | 22" | 19" | 33" |
| 2009 | 26" | 18" | 34" |
| 2004 | 25" | 20" | 36" |
| 1999 | 26" | 18" | 35" |
| 1994 | 30" | 18" | 27" |
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 · Trolling
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
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
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
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 | 24,000 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 24,000 fry · 700 fingerlings · 323 yearlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 24,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 1,680 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 1,440 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 2,125 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 9,250 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 9,402 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Pine Lake was conducted beginning on June 23th, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Ten sampling stations were completed with backpack electrofishing. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample eight stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at one station. One station was not seined due to steep drop-offs and heavy woody debris. Nearshore sampling captured 15 species of fish including three species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Iowa Darter, Mottled Sculpin, and Rock Bass) and zero that are tolerant of disturbance.
A summer trap net survey was also conducted by LBMA program staff beginning on June 9th. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured 11 species of fish, including one that is intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Rock Bass). Bluegill and Black Crappie comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Bluegill and Walleye comprised a majority by biomass. The trap net catch was light overall.
Read the full DNR narrative
The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from a August 2022 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake.
The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Kettle River watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Pine Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Pine Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Pine 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
- Pine Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Pine Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Big Pine Lake · 399 ac · 2.1 mi
- Bass Lake · 229 ac · 2.5 mi
- Upper Pine Lake · 233 ac · 3.1 mi
- Eleven Lake · 315 ac · 3.3 mi
- Five Lake · 44 ac · 4.1 mi
- Grindstone Lake · 533 ac · 5.5 mi
- Fish Lake · 185 ac · 6.5 mi
- Indian Lake · 77 ac · 6.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Pine Lake?
Pine Lake reaches 28 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 20 ft; about 25% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Pine Lake?
Pine Lake covers 378 acres with about 5 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Pine Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Pine Lake average 7.3 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Pine Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Pine Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Pine Lake have a public access?
Yes. Pine Lake has one public access site: Pine Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Pine Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 33"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Pine Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Pine Lake in 2025, the most recent of 11 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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