Minnesota · Cass County
Pleasant Lake Fishing guide
Pleasant Lake sits in Cass County, Minnesota, and covers 1,099 acres, reaching 72 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 14.3 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 18 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers3.3per gill net17"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 44 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 44 fish
2023Lengths measured · 62 fish
2020Lengths measured · 61 fish
2017Lengths measured · 83 fish
2014Largemouth bassJust a few2.6per hr (electrofishing)10"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 44 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 44 fish
2023Lengths measured · 35 fish
2020Lengths measured · 63 fish
2017Lengths measured · 63 fish
2014Northern pikeOne of the best around21per gill net16"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 255 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 255 fish
2023Lengths measured · 175 fish
2020Lengths measured · 243 fish
2017Lengths measured · 248 fish
2014BluegillJust a few6.6per trap net5"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 215 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 215 fish
2023Lengths measured · 217 fish
2020Lengths measured · 321 fish
2017Lengths measured · 197 fish
2014CrappieJust a few1per trap net9"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 28 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 28 fish
2023Lengths measured · 19 fish
2020Lengths measured · 21 fish
2017Lengths measured · 9 fish
2014Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Yellow perchFair numbers3.2per gill net6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 40 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 40 fish
2023Lengths measured · 36 fish
2020Lengths measured · 84 fish
2017Lengths measured · 99 fish
2014Rock bassExcellent numbers59.3per hr (electrofishing)6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 131 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 131 fish
2023Lengths measured · 103 fish
2020Lengths measured · 128 fish
2017Lengths measured · 147 fish
2014Rates 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 Pleasant Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 14.3 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 72 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.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 14.3 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 72 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 | Northern pike | Walleye | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 28" | 27" | 17" |
| 2020 | 27" | 26" | 15" |
| 2017 | 29" | 25" | 16" |
| 2014 | 31" | 29" | 17" |
| 2012 | 27" | 24" | 17" |
| 2009 | 33" | 27" | 17" |
| 2005 | 29" | 28" | 19" |
| 2001 | 31" | 27" | 14" |
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:
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
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
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 | Walleye | 411,510 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 9,044 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 6,144 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 8,200 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 13,528 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles were collected in the deepest basins in Pleasant Lake on July 31, 2024, 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. 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, the water temperature decreased to below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 27.4 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 27.7 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 0.2 feet, indicating that limited 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 21.0 degrees C (69.9 degrees F). TDO3 values near 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were marginal for Cisco; however, the layer was confined to less than 3 feet of suitable habitat at the time of this survey.
Read the full DNR narrative
Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in 2012-2023 during the late summer thermal stress period indicate variability of suitable oxythermal habitat across in years surveyed, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2012. 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
Pleasant Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Pleasant 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
- Pleasant Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Pleasant Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Five Point Lake · 251 ac · 2.6 mi
- Ox Yoke Lake · 185 ac · 3.1 mi
- Beuber Lake · 132 ac · 3.5 mi
- Birch Lake · 1,267 ac · 3.8 mi
- Stony Lake · 563 ac · 3.8 mi
- Willard Lake · 8 ac · 3.9 mi
- Webb Lake · 720 ac · 4.1 mi
- Big Deep Lake · 536 ac · 4.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Pleasant Lake?
Pleasant Lake reaches 72 ft at its deepest point; about 37% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Pleasant Lake?
Pleasant Lake covers 1,099 acres with about 10.1 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Pleasant Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Pleasant Lake average 14.3 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Pleasant Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Pleasant Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Pleasant Lake have a public access?
Yes. Pleasant Lake has one public access site: Pleasant Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Pleasant Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 28"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2001.
When was Pleasant Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Pleasant Lake in 2024, the most recent of 18 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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