Minnesota · Wright County
Pulaski Lake Fishing guide
Pulaski Lake is a 813-acre lake in Wright County, Minnesota, reaching 87 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 12 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 10 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Fair numbers2.8per gill net20"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 34 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 34 fish
2025Lengths measured · 95 fish
2020Lengths measured · 103 fish
2015Lengths measured · 104 fish
2010Largemouth bassFair numbers23.6per hr (electrofishing)13"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 65 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 65 fish
2025Lengths measured · 8 fish
2020Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 180 fish
2015Lengths measured · 87 fish
2010No recent survey rating.
Northern pikeGood numbers10.3per gill net19"Typical30"Biggest
Lengths measured · 131 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 131 fish
2025Lengths measured · 143 fish
2020Lengths measured · 165 fish
2015Lengths measured · 269 fish
2010BluegillJust a few7.8per trap net5"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 201 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 201 fish
2025Lengths measured · 326 fish
2020Lengths measured · 732 fish
2015Lengths measured · 622 fish
2015Rock bassOne of the best around8.2per gill net8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 102 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 102 fish
2025Lengths measured · 99 fish
2020Lengths measured · 116 fish
2015Lengths measured · 105 fish
2010Rates 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 Pulaski Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 12 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 87 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 12 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 87 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 30" | 28" | 19" |
| 2020 | 33" | 25" | 17" |
| 2015 | 32" | 25" | 18" |
| 2010 | 34" | 27" | 18" |
| 2004 | 37" | 26" | 16" |
| 2000 | 34" | 27" | 17" |
| 1993 | 31" | 27" | 17" |
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 · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | 3,160 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 2,497 fingerlings · 26 adults |
| 2020 | Walleye | 3,407 yearlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 2,136 fingerlings · 227 yearlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 1,000,000 fry · 2,205 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Pulaski Lake was conducted beginning on June 25, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at 14 sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample all 14 stations. Nearshore sampling captured seventeen species of fish including four species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Iowa Darter, Mimic Shiner, and Rock Bass) and two that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Fathead Minnow and Green Sunfish).
The nearshore survey data were combined with a trap net and gill net data from a survey conducted during the week of August 11, 2025 to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Banded Killifish and Iowa Darter), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Fathead Minnow and Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
Read the full DNR narrative
Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Pulaski Lake is adversely impacted by stressors, as indicated by an FIBI score below the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. The FIBI results are similar to previous findings, which indicated that Pulaski Lake was impaired for aquatic life use when last assessed. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the North Fork Crow River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Pulaski Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Pulaski Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Pulaski 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
- Pulaski Lake, Griffing Park (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Pulaski Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Constance Lake · 175 ac · 1.2 mi
- Washington Lake · 156 ac · 2.7 mi
- Buffalo Lake · 1,552 ac · 3.5 mi
- Light Foot Lake · 69 ac · 3.7 mi
- Black Lake · 98 ac · 4.1 mi
- South Twin Lake · 44 ac · 4.1 mi
- Mink Lake · 94 ac · 4.2 mi
- North Berthiaume Lake · 24 ac · 4.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Pulaski Lake?
Pulaski Lake reaches 87 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 37.5 ft; about 15% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Pulaski Lake?
Pulaski Lake covers 813 acres with about 5.9 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Pulaski Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Pulaski Lake average 12 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Pulaski Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Pulaski Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Pulaski Lake have a public access?
Yes. Pulaski Lake has one public access site: Pulaski Lake, Griffing Park (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Pulaski Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 30"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1993.
When was Pulaski Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Pulaski Lake in 2025, the most recent of 10 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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