Minnesota · Crow Wing County
Ruth Lake Fishing guide
Ruth Lake is a 599-acre lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, reaching 39 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 22.8 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 8 times, most recently in 2022, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers1per gill net22"Typical29"Biggest
Lengths measured · 16 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 16 fish
2021Lengths measured · 14 fish
2015Lengths measured · 26 fish
2009Lengths measured · 9 fish
2003Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Largemouth bassFair numbers29.2per hr (electrofishing)14"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 110 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 110 fish
2021Lengths measured · 197 fish
2015Lengths measured · 145 fish
2009Lengths measured · 155 fish
2003Northern pikeOne of the best around17.8per gill net20"Typical34"Biggest
Lengths measured · 169 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 169 fish
2021Lengths measured · 123 fish
2015Lengths measured · 109 fish
2009Lengths measured · 125 fish
2003BluegillGood numbers65.6per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 596 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 596 fish
2021Lengths measured · 268 fish
2015Lengths measured · 589 fish
2009Lengths measured · 737 fish
2003CrappieJust a few0.9per trap net10"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 12 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 12 fish
2021Lengths measured · 14 fish
2015Lengths measured · 34 fish
2009Lengths measured · 49 fish
2003Yellow perchGood numbers6.2per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 57 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 57 fish
2021Lengths measured · 51 fish
2015Lengths measured · 181 fish
2009Lengths measured · 170 fish
2003Rates 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 Ruth Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 22.8 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.
- 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 22.8 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.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 34" | 29" | 18" |
| 2015 | 35" | 29" | 20" |
| 2009 | 34" | 20" | 19" |
| 2003 | 30" | 28" | 18" |
| 1998 | 34" | 26" | 2" |
| 1993 | 34" | 23" | 15" |
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 · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 4,000 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 5,000 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 4,800 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 5,000 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 3,200 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2022 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Ruth Lake was conducted on July 6-7, 2022, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) 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 fourteen sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample twelve stations and a 15-foot seine was used at two stations. Nearshore sampling captured sixteen species of fish including five species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Rock Bass, and Smallmouth Bass) and none that are tolerant of disturbance.
The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from a June 2021 survey 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., Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), 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 will be considered when the biological health of Ruth Lake is assessed during the Pine River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Ruth Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Ruth 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
- Ruth Lake (trailer launch)
- Ruth Lake Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Ruth Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Mary Lake · 413 ac · 1.7 mi
- Emily Lake · 721 ac · 1.8 mi
- Trout Lake · 117 ac · 2 mi
- Blue Lake · 177 ac · 2.6 mi
- Butterfield Lake · 194 ac · 3.4 mi
- Pickerel Lake · 117 ac · 3.8 mi
- Allen Lake · 45 ac · 3.8 mi
- Smokey Hollow Lake · 126 ac · 3.8 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Ruth Lake?
Ruth Lake reaches 39 ft at its deepest point; about 33% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Ruth Lake?
Ruth Lake covers 599 acres with about 5.1 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Ruth Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Ruth Lake average 22.8 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Ruth Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2022) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Ruth Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Ruth Lake have a public access?
Yes. Ruth Lake has 2 public access sites, including Ruth Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Ruth Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 34"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1993.
When was Ruth Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Ruth Lake in 2022, the most recent of 8 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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