Minnesota · Cass County
Ponto Lake Fishing guide
Ponto Lake covers 388 acres in Cass County, Minnesota, reaching 60 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 18.2 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 12 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Good numbers4.6per gill net15"Typical24"Biggest
Lengths measured · 84 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 58 fish
2024Lengths measured · 26 fish
2021Lengths measured · 34 fish
2018Lengths measured · 44 fish
2015Largemouth bassPresent4.9per gill net10"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 102 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 56 fish
2024Lengths measured · 46 fish
2021Lengths measured · 41 fish
2018Lengths measured · 62 fish
2015Northern pikeFair numbers6.1per gill net20"Typical29"Biggest
Lengths measured · 111 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 52 fish
2024Lengths measured · 59 fish
2021Lengths measured · 85 fish
2018Lengths measured · 89 fish
2015BluegillJust a few8.8per trap net4"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 186 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 45 fish
2024Lengths measured · 141 fish
2021Lengths measured · 47 fish
2018Lengths measured · 103 fish
2015CrappieJust a few0.2per trap net12"Typical15"Biggest
Lengths measured · 22 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 12 fish
2024Lengths measured · 10 fish
2021Lengths measured · 37 fish
2018Lengths measured · 49 fish
2015Yellow perchFair numbers1.2per gill net6"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 23 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 6 fish
2024Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 17 fish
2021Lengths measured · 4 fish
2018Only 4 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.
Rock bassOne of the best around7.8per gill net6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 165 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 85 fish
2024Lengths measured · 80 fish
2021Lengths measured · 82 fish
2018Lengths measured · 63 fish
2015Rates 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 Ponto Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 18.2 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 60 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 18.2 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 60 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 24" | 29" | 17" |
| 2021 | 23" | 29" | 18" |
| 2018 | 23" | 36" | 19" |
| 2015 | 23" | 35" | 15" |
| 2009 | 27" | 35" | 18" |
| 2002 | 28" | 37" | 19" |
| 1996 | 25" | 31" | 16" |
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 · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Hover Shot
3–4" soft jerkbait minnow nose-rigged on a 90°-eye hover head so it hangs dead level
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | 897 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 3,264 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 1,530 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 1,020 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 1,530 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 3,568 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Ponto Lake is a 388-acre lake located northeast of Backus, Minnesota. A DNR owned public access is located on the southeast shore. Ponto Lake has 4.53 miles of shoreline, 102 littoral acres and a maximum depth of 60 feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical and other characteristics. Ponto Lake is in Lake Class 23; lakes in this class tend to be deep, clear, have a low percentage of littoral area (less than 15 feet deep), and hard water. Other area lakes in this class include Baby, Mule, Grave, and Jack lakes. The lake is primarily managed for Northern Pike and Walleye, and secondarily for Bluegill, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass and Yellow Perch.
Northern Pike were caught in moderate numbers and were within the management goal for abundance but did not meet size management goals. Sampled Northern Pike ranged in length from 15 to 29 inches, with an average length of 21 inches and average weight of 2.0 pounds. The Walleye catch rate exceeded the minimum management goal for the first time since 2006. Walleye lengths ranged from 13 to 25 inches with an average length of 16 inches. Bluegill were caught at moderate levels and were generally small. The Bluegill catch did not meet the management goal and fish ranged in length from 3 to 8 inches. Black Crappie were caught at moderate numbers and met the management goals. Black Crappie lengths ranged from 8 to 15 inches. Largemouth Bass were abundant with fish from 5 to 17 inches sampled. Yellow Perch catches remained below the management goal with only six fish sampled. Past surveys have sampled low numbers of Smallmouth Bass however, none were sampled in this survey.
Read the full DNR narrative
Other species sampled in Ponto Lake include Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, 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, no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Ponto Lake. 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
Ponto Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Ponto 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
- Ponto Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Ponto Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Long Lake · 246 ac · 1.3 mi
- Island Lake · 184 ac · 1.4 mi
- Hand Lake · 289 ac · 1.8 mi
- Sand Lake · 149 ac · 2 mi
- Sand Lake · 41 ac · 2.4 mi
- Deep Portage Lake · 129 ac · 2.6 mi
- Hay Lake · 364 ac · 2.7 mi
- Ada Lake · 963 ac · 2.9 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Ponto Lake?
Ponto Lake reaches 60 ft at its deepest point; about 26% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Ponto Lake?
Ponto Lake covers 388 acres with about 4.5 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Ponto Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Ponto Lake average 18.2 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Ponto Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Ponto Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Ponto Lake have a public access?
Yes. Ponto Lake has one public access site: Ponto Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Ponto Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 24"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1996.
When was Ponto Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Ponto Lake in 2024, the most recent of 12 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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