Minnesota · Cook County
Poplar Lake Fishing guide
Poplar Lake is a 764-acre lake in Cook County, Minnesota, reaching 73 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 10.7 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 20 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 numbers1per gill net12"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 13 fish
Recent · 2016Lengths measured · 17 fish
2020Lengths measured · 13 fish
2016Lengths measured · 11 fish
2012Lengths measured · 11 fish
2009No recent survey rating.
Smallmouth bassPresent (last recorded 2020)0.1per gill net1"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 57 fish
Recent · 2016Lengths measured · 4 fish
2020Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 57 fish
2016Lengths measured · 14 fish
2016Lengths measured · 2 fish
2012Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Northern pikeJust a few1.2per gill net17"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 23 fish
Recent · 2016Lengths measured · 25 fish
2020Lengths measured · 23 fish
2016Lengths measured · 20 fish
2012Lengths measured · 17 fish
2009No recent survey rating.
CrappieJust a few0.1per trap net1"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 71 fish
Recent · 2016Lengths measured · 6 fish
2020Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 71 fish
2016Lengths measured · 11 fish
2012Lengths measured · 2 fish
2009Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Yellow perchJust a few0.4per gill net1"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 305 fish
Recent · 2016Lengths measured · 2 fish
2020Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 305 fish
2016Lengths measured · 3 fish
2012Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 11 fish
2009Last recorded in the 2003 survey and not seen since.
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 Poplar Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 10.7 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 73 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.
Smallmouth bass
- Spring
- Smallmouth are on shallow rock, gravel and sand where they spawn. At 10.7 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Smallmouth are post-spawn on rock points, gravel bars and the adjacent breaks.
- Summer
- Smallmouth are on rock humps, points and hard-bottom breaks. On a lake that drops to 73 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Smallmouth are bunched tight on deep rock, so find one and you have found the school.
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 | Smallmouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 31" | 16" | 23" |
| 2016 | 27" | 17" | 25" |
| 2012 | 16" | 16" | 25" |
| 2009 | 20" | 14" | 23" |
| 2006 | 18" | 10" | 27" |
| 2003 | 17" | 13" | 20" |
| 1999 | 13" | 13" | 29" |
| 1997 | 19" | 2" | 32" |
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
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Smallmouth bass · 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
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 | 6,032 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 17,216 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 7,206 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 20,250 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 11,603 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Poplar Lake on August 5th, 2024, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Whitefish, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. During the summer, Lake Whitefish require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 17.2 degrees C (63.0 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth 65.6 feet), the water temperature decreased below 17.2 degrees C (63.0 degrees F) at 18.4 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 64.1 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 45.7 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present for Lake Whitefish.
Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 9.3 degrees C (48.7 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 17.2 degrees C (63.0 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Lake Whitefish at the time of the survey.
Read the full DNR narrative
Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 6 years between 1984-2023 also indicate suitable oxythermal habitat in all years surveyed, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2024. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Lake Whitefish are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Poplar Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Poplar 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
- Popular Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Poplar Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Prune Lake · 9 ac · 0.6 mi
- Lizz Lake · 23 ac · 0.9 mi
- Road Lake · 12 ac · 1.7 mi
- Leo Lake · 102 ac · 1.8 mi
- Birch Lake · 236 ac · 1.8 mi
- Swamp Lake · 181 ac · 1.9 mi
- Moss Lake · 254 ac · 2.1 mi
- Squint Lake · 16 ac · 2.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Poplar Lake?
Poplar Lake reaches 73 ft at its deepest point; about 38% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Poplar Lake?
Poplar Lake covers 764 acres with about 23.2 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Poplar Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Poplar Lake average 10.7 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Poplar Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, lake trout.
Is Poplar Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Poplar Lake have a public access?
Yes. Poplar Lake has one public access site: Popular Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Poplar 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 1997.
When was Poplar Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Poplar Lake in 2024, the most recent of 20 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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