Minnesota · Crow Wing County
Sibley Lake Fishing guide
Sibley Lake covers 444 acres in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, reaching 40 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 5.3 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 8 times, most recently in 2021, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
BluegillJust a few23.3per trap net5"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 210 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 210 fish
2021Lengths measured · 249 fish
2020Lengths measured · 311 fish
2014Lengths measured · 192 fish
1997CrappieJust a few2.8per trap net7"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 25 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 25 fish
2021Lengths measured · 70 fish
2020Lengths measured · 132 fish
2014Lengths measured · 79 fish
1997No recent survey rating.
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 Sibley 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. On a lake that drops to 40 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.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. On a lake that drops to 40 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
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 | Largemouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 24" | 12" | 24" |
| 2020 | 28" | 18" | 32" |
| 2014 | 27" | 18" | 35" |
| 1997 | — | 17" | 35" |
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
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
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 | 300,000 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 5,202 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 6,120 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 300,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 1,807 fingerlings · 101 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2021 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Sibley Lake was conducted on August 5, 2021, 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 all 10 sampling stations, but two stations were sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample six stations, a 15-foot seine was used to sample two stations, and site conditions prevented the use of a seine at two stations. Nearshore sampling captured 16 species of fish including one species that is intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Blacknose Shiner) and two that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Common Carp and Green Sunfish).
A summer trap net survey was also conducted by IBI Program staff on August 11-12, 2021. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured 12 species of fish, including one that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Common Carp). Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Common Carp, Bluegill, Yellow Bullhead, and Walleye comprised a majority by biomass.
Read the full DNR narrative
The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from a July 2020 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., Green Sunfish and Common Carp). 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.
Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Sibley Lake is adversely impacted by stressors, as indicated by an FIBI score below the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Crow Wing 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
Sibley Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Sibley 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
- Sibley Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Sibley Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Mayo Lake · 164 ac · 1.8 mi
- Loon Lake · 232 ac · 2.4 mi
- East Twin Lake · 163 ac · 2.6 mi
- West Twin Lake · 128 ac · 3 mi
- Upper Cullen Lake · 442 ac · 3.7 mi
- Upper Hay Lake · 596 ac · 3.7 mi
- Fawn Lake · 64 ac · 3.9 mi
- Middle Cullen Lake · 405 ac · 4 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Sibley Lake?
Sibley Lake reaches 40 ft at its deepest point; about 57% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Sibley Lake?
Sibley Lake covers 444 acres with about 9.1 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Sibley Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Sibley Lake average 5.3 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Sibley Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2021) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Sibley Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2018.
Does Sibley Lake have a public access?
Yes. Sibley Lake has one public access site: Sibley Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Sibley Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 24"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1997.
When was Sibley Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Sibley Lake in 2021, the most recent of 8 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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