Minnesota · DNR survey data

Pughole Lake

Pughole Lake covers 158 acres in Itasca County, running to 23 feet, last surveyed by the DNR in 2024. The Minnesota DNR has not published bathymetry for this lake, so there is no depth map here, just the survey record: what the nets held and how big it ran.

Open Pughole Lake in the live map → Write a report

DNR survey data

Fish species

Species
How many
Survey numbers
Lengths
Walleye
Just a few
0.2per gill net
Typical
20"Biggest
Largemouth bass
Fair numbers
31.2per hr (electrofishing)
Typical
13"Biggest
Northern pike
Just a few
5.8per gill net
23"Typical
33"Biggest
12"33"

Lengths measured · 33 fish

Recent · 2024
12"15"20"25"30"35"36"

Lengths measured · 33 fish

2024
12"15"20"25"30"35"36"

Lengths measured · 28 fish

2009
12"15"20"25"30"35"36"

Lengths measured · 44 fish

2002
12"15"20"25"30"35"36"

Lengths measured · 28 fish

1996
12"15"20"25"30"35"36"
Muskellunge
Present (last recorded 1975)

Last recorded in the 1975 survey and not seen since.

Bluegill
Just a few
11.7per trap net
6"Typical
8"Biggest
3"8"

Lengths measured · 147 fish

Recent · 2024
3"4"6"8"

Lengths measured · 147 fish

2024
3"4"6"8"

Lengths measured · 141 fish

2009
3"4"6"8"

Lengths measured · 155 fish

2002
3"4"6"8"

Lengths measured · 173 fish

1996
3"4"6"8"
Crappie
Just a few
3.1per trap net
8"Typical
10"Biggest
4"10"

Lengths measured · 22 fish

Recent · 2024
3"4"6"8"10"11"

Lengths measured · 22 fish

2024
3"4"6"8"10"11"

Lengths measured · 10 fish

2009
3"4"6"8"10"11"

Lengths measured · 16 fish

2002
3"4"6"8"10"11"

Lengths measured · 25 fish

1996
3"4"6"8"10"11"
Yellow perch
Just a few
0.4per gill net
Typical
6"Biggest

Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear — which is why the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, the page shows presence and size only. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey. You can read every number on this page without an app or an account.

Recent reports

Pughole Lake fishing reports

Recent reports on Pughole 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.

Open the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report

Itasca County reports

Public water access

Getting on the water

Within 30 miles

Nearby lakes

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Is there a depth map for Pughole Lake?

The Minnesota DNR has not published bathymetry for Pughole Lake, so this page carries the survey record instead: species, catch rates and stocking history.

What fish are in Pughole Lake?

The most recent DNR survey (2024) recorded walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.

Does Pughole Lake have a public access?

Yes. Pughole Lake has one public access site: Pughole Lake (trailer launch).

Is Pughole Lake stocked?

No stocking is on record for Pughole Lake in the DNR's stocking database.

When was Pughole Lake last surveyed?

The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Pughole Lake in 2024, the most recent of 9 surveys on record.

Survey numbers are the Minnesota DNR's. How this site reads them →

Page updated .