Minnesota · Aitkin County
Sissabagamah Lake Fishing guide
Sissabagamah Lake sits in Aitkin County, Minnesota, and covers 406 acres, reaching 37 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 7.9 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 12 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers1.3per gill net20"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 15 fish
Recent · 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 1 fish
2025Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 14 fish
2024Lengths measured · 14 fish
2019Lengths measured · 13 fish
2017Largemouth bassJust a few14.9per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical21"Biggest
Lengths measured · 101 fish
Recent · 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 6 fish
2025Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 95 fish
2024Lengths measured · 35 fish
2019Lengths measured · 20 fish
2017Northern pikeJust a few5.3per gill net17"Typical32"Biggest
Lengths measured · 78 fish
Recent · 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 7 fish
2025Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 71 fish
2024Lengths measured · 61 fish
2019Lengths measured · 58 fish
2017BluegillJust a few7.6per trap net7"Typical24"Biggest
Lengths measured · 403 fish
Recent · 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 89 fish
2025Lengths measured · 314 fish
2024Lengths measured · 114 fish
2019Lengths measured · 26 fish
2017CrappieJust a few0.3per trap net8"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 47 fish
Recent · 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 5 fish
2025Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 42 fish
2024Lengths measured · 51 fish
2019Lengths measured · 27 fish
2017Rates 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 Sissabagamah 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.
- 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.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15" | 14" | 18" |
| 2024 | 27" | 21" | 32" |
| 2019 | 24" | 15" | 34" |
| 2017 | 22" | 17" | 34" |
| 2014 | 24" | 17" | 34" |
| 2009 | 21" | 18" | 33" |
| 2004 | 24" | 18" | 33" |
| 1999 | 22" | 16" | 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
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
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 | 6,160 fingerlings |
| 2024 | Walleye | 3,930 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 4,136 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 3,520 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 4,620 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 3,420 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 5,280 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 5,500 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 3,300 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 4,620 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Lake Sissabagamah, was conducted on July 7- 9, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment Program (LBMA) 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 10 sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample three stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at five stations. Two stations were not seined due to dense vegetation and difficulty walking through habitat. Nearshore sampling captured 18 species of fish including four species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass) and two species that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Black Bullhead and Green Sunfish).
A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by LBMA staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured 11 species of fish. Bluegill and Brown Bullhead comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Bowfin and Bluegill comprised a majority by biomass. The trap net catch was relatively light overall.
Read the full DNR narrative
The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from an August 2024 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., Blackchin 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 web site.
Results from this survey suggest that Lake Sissabagamah is near the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes, which was similar to results observed in 2014 and 2024. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Mississippi River Brainerd watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Lake Sissabagamah by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Sissabagamah Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Sissabagamah 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
- Sissabagamah Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Sissabagamah Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Section Ten Lake · 436 ac · 1.3 mi
- Four Lake · 137 ac · 1.4 mi
- Hanson Lake · 143 ac · 1.8 mi
- Section Twelve Lake · 170 ac · 1.9 mi
- Nord Lake · 418 ac · 2.3 mi
- Elm Island Lake · 520 ac · 3.3 mi
- Ripple Lake · 631 ac · 4.2 mi
- Rabbit Lake · 212 ac · 4.3 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Sissabagamah Lake?
Sissabagamah Lake reaches 37 ft at its deepest point; about 54% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Sissabagamah Lake?
Sissabagamah Lake covers 406 acres with about 4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Sissabagamah Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Sissabagamah Lake average 7.9 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Sissabagamah Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Sissabagamah Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Sissabagamah Lake have a public access?
Yes. Sissabagamah Lake has one public access site: Sissabagamah Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Sissabagamah Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 27"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1999.
When was Sissabagamah Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Sissabagamah Lake in 2025, the most recent of 12 surveys on record.
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