Minnesota · Itasca County
Round Lake Fishing guide
Round Lake sits in Itasca County, Minnesota, and covers 2,860 acres, reaching 24 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 6.8 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 24 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeExcellent numbers12per gill net14"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 192 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 168 fish
2024Lengths measured · 24 fish
2021Lengths measured · 78 fish
2019Lengths measured · 37 fish
2014Northern pikeGood numbers12.9per gill net19"Typical33"Biggest
Lengths measured · 222 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 180 fish
2024Lengths measured · 42 fish
2021Lengths measured · 204 fish
2019Lengths measured · 365 fish
2013BluegillJust a few1.6per trap net7"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 57 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 33 fish
2024Lengths measured · 24 fish
2021Lengths measured · 47 fish
2019Lengths measured · 15 fish
2013CrappieJust a few1.2per trap net10"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 31 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 13 fish
2024Lengths measured · 18 fish
2021Lengths measured · 15 fish
2019Lengths measured · 89 fish
2013Yellow perchExcellent numbers15.9per gill net7"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 233 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 223 fish
2024Lengths measured · 10 fish
2021Lengths measured · 148 fish
2019Lengths measured · 469 fish
2013Rates 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 Round Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- 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. With 69% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- 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.
- 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. With 69% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- 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 | 25" | 33" | — |
| 2021 | 23" | 25" | 17" |
| 2019 | 27" | 35" | — |
| 2014 | 7" | — | — |
| 2013 | 26" | 36" | — |
| 2011 | 12" | — | — |
| 2010 | 11" | — | — |
| 2009 | 22" | 34" | — |
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 · Trolling
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
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
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Round Lake is located on the west side of Squaw Lake, MN. Round Lake has two public accesses and moderate shoreline development. Other area lakes with similar habitat having quality Walleye fisheries include Island, Moose, Jessie, and Split Hand. The 2020 lake management plan identifies Walleye as the primary species of management interest with Yellow Perch as a secondary species. The goal was to maintain a catch near 5.5 Walleye/net by natural reproduction and regulations; and Yellow Perch catch above 18.2/net with 10 to 30% of the sample exceeding 10 inches.
Round Lake has received various special regulations to improve the fishery in the last 20 years. In the spring of 2005 and 2007, special Walleye and Northern Pike regulations were implemented. The Walleye slot length limit required the release of all fish between 17 and 26 inches and only one over 26 inches could be in possession. The Northern Pike slot length limit required the release of all fish between 22 to 36 inches and only one over 36 inches could be possessed (nine fish bag limit). The Northern Pike special regulation was dropped in 2017 in favor of the North-central Zone regulation in 2019, which was anticipated to produce similar results and reduce regulation complexity. In 2023, the Walleye regulation was modified to a 20 to 24-inch protected slot length limit with only one over 24 inches in possession.
Read the full DNR narrative
Since 1954, Walleye catches have ranged from 3.3 to 12/net. Walleye catches have been stable, with numbers often within the expected range for this lake type (3.3 to 8.8/net). In 2024, the Walleye gill-net catch of 12.0 fish/net was the highest on record, exceeding the management goal. Sampled Walleye ranged from 9.4 to 26.0 inches and averaged 14.7 inches. Fourteen age-classes were observed with fish from 2 to 18 years old present. The 2021 year-classes represented 61% of the sample. Growth was good for Round Lake with Walleye averaging 15.8 inches after four years of growth.
Natural reproduction for Walleye has been well documented and sufficient to maintain a high-quality fishery for years. The record high catch in 2024 should provide good fishing for a few years as fish from the strong 2021 year-class grow to sizes anglers prefer to keep.
Northern Pike gill-net catch rates have fluctuated greatly from a low of 4.9 fish/net in 2009 to a high of 22.1 fish/net in 2013. The catches in 2019 (12.1/net) and 2024 (12.9/net) were more representative of the lake average yet high compared to other lakes. Sampled Northern Pike ranged from 8.7 to 33.9 inches and averaged 19.9 inches. Age and growth information was not collected in this survey but based on the lake's history growth likely remained poor. Anglers can expect good action from smaller pike.
Yellow Perch catches have fluctuated from a low of 9.2 fish/net in 2019 to a high of 102.7 fish/net in 1983. Following a record low in 2019, Yellow Perch catches increased to 15.9/net in 2024. Catches were comparable to lakes with similar habitat. Yellow Perch ranged from 5.0 to 11.2 inches and averaged 7.9 inches. Perch catches and size structure did not attain the management goals. Five age-classes were identified with fish from 2 to 6 years old present. Growth was fast compared to statewide averages with fish averaging 8.5 inches after four years. Although the Yellow Perch size structure has often been good, frequency of yellow grub, a parasite, may limit angler interest.
Tullibee is a species that can be difficult to sample but they are important to fish communities as a prey source. In 2006, the gill-net catch rate of 2.7 fish/net was the highest on record and was above average for lakes of similar habitat. Only three have been sampled in the last four surveys, including none in 2024. Though Round Lake has marginal habitat for Tullibee, the climate in the last couple decades have not been favorable for the species.
Other species observed during the survey included Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Shorthead Redhorse, and White Sucker.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Round Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Round 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
- Round Lake (E) (trailer launch)
- Round Lake (N) (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Round Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Natures Lake · 2,249 ac · 3.1 mi
- Dunbar Lake · 268 ac · 4 mi
- Rice Lake · 791 ac · 6 mi
- Dixon Lake · 622 ac · 6.2 mi
- Sunken Lake · 45 ac · 6.3 mi
- Little Sand Lake · 353 ac · 6.3 mi
- Sand Lake · 3,579 ac · 6.9 mi
- Bird's Eye Lake · 80 ac · 8.3 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Round Lake?
Round Lake reaches 24 ft at its deepest point; about 69% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Round Lake?
Round Lake covers 2,860 acres with about 10.7 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Round Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Round Lake average 6.8 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Round Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Round Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Round Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Round Lake have a public access?
Yes. Round Lake has 2 public access sites, including Round Lake (E) (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Round Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 25"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2009.
When was Round Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Round Lake in 2024, the most recent of 24 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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