Minnesota · Cass County
Six Mile Lake Fishing guide
Six Mile Lake sits in Cass County, Minnesota, and covers 1,323 acres, reaching 68 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 8.3 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 9 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Excellent numbers7.1per gill net14"Typical22"Biggest
Lengths measured · 173 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 105 fish
2025Lengths measured · 68 fish
2022Lengths measured · 68 fish
2013Lengths measured · 60 fish
2003Northern pikeJust a few4.9per gill net19"Typical32"Biggest
Lengths measured · 124 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 63 fish
2025Lengths measured · 61 fish
2022Lengths measured · 102 fish
2013Lengths measured · 99 fish
2003BluegillJust a few9.5per trap net4"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 249 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 41 fish
2025Lengths measured · 208 fish
2022Lengths measured · 84 fish
2013Yellow perchExcellent numbers18per gill net6"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 490 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 281 fish
2025Lengths measured · 209 fish
2022Lengths measured · 624 fish
2013Lengths measured · 1472 fish
2003Rock bassExcellent numbers2.1per seine haul9"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 72 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 25 fish
2025Lengths measured · 47 fish
2022Lengths measured · 42 fish
2013Lengths measured · 75 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 Six Mile 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 68 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 68 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22" | 5" | 32" |
| 2022 | 20" | — | 27" |
| 2013 | 25" | 18" | 31" |
| 2003 | 25" | 14" | 34" |
| 1997 | 27" | 4" | 29" |
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 · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
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 | 706,000 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 1,342,495 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 606,825 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 789,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 632,500 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 607,940 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 1,251,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Six Mile Lake is a 1,323-acre lake with 606 littoral acres, 7.77 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 68 feet located southeast of Bena, MN in the Chippewa National Forest. A US Forest Service owned public access and campground is located on the northeast shore. The DNR has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical and other characteristics. Six Mile Lake is in Lake Class 27; lakes in this class are fairly large and deep, supporting diverse fisheries. Other area lakes in this class include Ada, Crooked, Lower Sucker, Pleasant, and Webb Lake. The lake is primarily managed for Northern Pike, Walleye, and Yellow Perch and secondarily for Largemouth Bass and Cisco.
Six Mile Lake provides multi-species angling opportunity. Walleye abundance was above the management goal and lengths ranged from 9 to 22 inches with multiple age classes present in catch. Northern Pike abundance was within the management goal range, though size goals were not met. Pike measured between 14 and 32 inches and averaged 20 inches long. Yellow Perch abundance was below management goals, though size goals were achieved with the average perch measuring 7 inches. Bluegill abundance was low in 2025 however, quality fish were sampled. Cisco catch has shown a declining trend since early surveys.
Read the full DNR narrative
Other fish species that anglers can expect to encounter include, Black Bullhead, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.
People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Currently, no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Six Mile Lake. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Six Mile Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Six Mile 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
- Six Mile Lake, Campground (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Six Mile Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Portage Lake · 1,539 ac · 8.1 mi
- Little Winnibigoshish Lake · 1,002 ac · 9.2 mi
- Ball Club Lake · 4,335 ac · 9.9 mi
- Little Ball Club Lake · 185 ac · 10.3 mi
- Winnibigoshish Lake · 56,471 ac · 11.3 mi
- Lower Sucker Lake · 592 ac · 13.2 mi
- Middle Sucker Lake · 286 ac · 13.3 mi
- Upper Sucker Lake · 113 ac · 13.4 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Six Mile Lake?
Six Mile Lake reaches 68 ft at its deepest point; about 46% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Six Mile Lake?
Six Mile Lake covers 1,323 acres with about 7.8 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Six Mile Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Six Mile Lake average 8.3 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Six Mile Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Six Mile Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Six Mile Lake have a public access?
Yes. Six Mile Lake has one public access site: Six Mile Lake, Campground (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Six Mile Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 22"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1997.
When was Six Mile Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Six Mile Lake in 2025, the most recent of 9 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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