Minnesota · Cass County
Pine Mountain Lake Fishing guide
Pine Mountain Lake covers 1,617 acres in Cass County, Minnesota, reaching 80 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 7.4 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 14 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Excellent numbers7.2per gill net17"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 231 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 73 fish
2025Lengths measured · 147 fish
2022Lengths measured · 11 fish
2022Lengths measured · 75 fish
2019Largemouth bassJust a few18.1per hr (electrofishing)7"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 130 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 34 fish
2025Lengths measured · 56 fish
2022Lengths measured · 40 fish
2022Lengths measured · 29 fish
2019Northern pikeFair numbers9.2per gill net21"Typical33"Biggest
Lengths measured · 296 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 117 fish
2025Lengths measured · 171 fish
2022Lengths measured · 8 fish
2022Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 191 fish
2019BluegillJust a few16.3per trap net5"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 902 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 379 fish
2025Lengths measured · 224 fish
2022Lengths measured · 299 fish
2022Lengths measured · 206 fish
2019CrappieJust a few0.2per trap net11"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 45 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 8 fish
2025Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 36 fish
2022Lengths measured · 1 fish
2022Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 48 fish
2019Yellow perchOne of the best around34.8per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 1087 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 731 fish
2025Lengths measured · 340 fish
2022Lengths measured · 16 fish
2022Lengths measured · 102 fish
2019Rock bassGood numbers1per trap net6"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 101 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 44 fish
2025Lengths measured · 45 fish
2022Lengths measured · 12 fish
2022Lengths measured · 22 fish
2019Rates 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 Mountain 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 80 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 80 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25" | 28" | 17" |
| 2022 | 27" | 33" | 18" |
| 2019 | 23" | 36" | 17" |
| 2015 | 25" | 36" | 17" |
| 2008 | 26" | 37" | 20" |
| 2005 | 27" | 31" | 18" |
| 2002 | 22" | 31" | 13" |
| 1999 | 27" | 35" | 18" |
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 · Jigs & bladed
Tail Spinner
Compact lead body with a free-spinning blade on the tail
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 · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
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 | 1,518,330 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 1,502,550 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 1,510,500 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 1,509,600 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 1,501,200 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Pine Mountain Lake (DOW # 11-0411; Lake Class 22) is a 1,612 acre lake with 737 littoral acres, 9.4 miles of shoreline, and a maximum depth of 80 feet located in Backus, MN. There is a city-owned public access on the east shore. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical and other characteristics. Pine Mountain Lake is in Lake Class 22; lakes in the class are generally clear, large, deep lakes with a low percentage of shallow water area and have irregularly shaped shorelines with many bays or points. Other area lakes in this class include Little Boy, Steamboat, Ten Mile and Wabedo. Pine Mountain Lake is primarily managed for Northern Pike and Walleye and secondarily for Tullibee (Cisco), Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie and Yellow Perch. A standard lake survey was completed in 2025.
Pine Mountain Lake is an excellent Walleye and Northern Pike lake in the Walker area. Northern Pike were abundant and ranged in length from 14 to 29 inches with an average length of 22 inches. Northern Pike size restrictions and possession limits for Pine Mountain Lake are defined in the North Central Zone Northern Pike regulation and anglers are encouraged to harvest Northern Pike under 22 inches long. Walleye abundance declined slightly in the 2025 survey, and were slightly below management goals. Walleye ranged in length from 8 to 25 inches with an average length of 18 inches. Most of the Walleye sampled were between 14 and 19 inches long. Walleye fry are stocked during odd years, and eight consecutive year-classes were sampled. Bluegill abundance increased from recent surveys, exceeding management goals and provide quality angling opportunities. Bluegill ranged in length from 2 to 10 inches with an average length of 5 inches. Largemouth Bass up to 18 inches were sampled. Black Crappie ranged in length from 6 to 13 inches with an average length of 10 inches. Yellow Perch abundance increased from previous surveys and sampled perch ranged in length from 5 to 9 inches.
Read the full DNR narrative
Other fish species that anglers can expect to encounter include Bowfin (Dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Tullibee (Cisco), White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.
People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Currently Pine Mountain Lake is infested with Zebra Mussel, and Curly Leaf Pondweed. Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Pine Mountain Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Pine Mountain 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 Mountain Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Pine Mountain Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Bowen Lake · 182 ac · 2 mi
- Lind Lake · 440 ac · 2.6 mi
- Long Lake · 143 ac · 2.7 mi
- Beuber Lake · 132 ac · 3.3 mi
- Horseshoe Lake · 260 ac · 3.3 mi
- Sanborn Lake · 220 ac · 3.6 mi
- Perch Lake · 13 ac · 3.9 mi
- Willard Lake · 8 ac · 4 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Pine Mountain Lake?
Pine Mountain Lake reaches 80 ft at its deepest point; about 46% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Pine Mountain Lake?
Pine Mountain Lake covers 1,617 acres with about 9.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Pine Mountain Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Pine Mountain Lake average 7.4 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Pine Mountain Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Pine Mountain Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Pine Mountain Lake have a public access?
Yes. Pine Mountain Lake has one public access site: Pine Mountain Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Pine Mountain 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 1999.
When was Pine Mountain Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Pine Mountain Lake in 2025, the most recent of 14 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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