Minnesota · Isanti County
Skogman Lake Fishing guide
Skogman Lake covers 228 acres in Isanti County, Minnesota, reaching 36 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 5 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 8 times, most recently in 2022, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Largemouth bassGood numbers51.3per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 56 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 56 fish
2022Lengths measured · 1 fish
2013Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 29 fish
2006Lengths measured · 62 fish
2001BluegillJust a few24.3per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 319 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 319 fish
2022Lengths measured · 337 fish
2013Lengths measured · 267 fish
2006Lengths measured · 150 fish
2001CrappieJust a few3.3per trap net7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 56 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 56 fish
2022Lengths measured · 43 fish
2013Lengths measured · 46 fish
2006Lengths measured · 23 fish
2001Yellow perchGood numbers7.2per gill net7"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 45 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 45 fish
2022Lengths measured · 24 fish
2013Lengths measured · 66 fish
2001Lengths measured · 52 fish
1996Rates 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 Skogman Lake through the year
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.
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.
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 | Largemouth bass | Walleye | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 19" | 26" | 32" |
| 2013 | 20" | 22" | 32" |
| 2006 | 19" | 23" | 31" |
| 2001 | 18" | 17" | 31" |
| 1996 | 18" | 24" | 27" |
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:
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
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
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Spinnerbait
3/8–1/2 oz safety-pin spinnerbait with tandem willow-leaf blades
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | 134,000 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 134,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 134,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 134,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 134,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 134,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2022 survey
Skogman is a bass-panfish lake managed primarily for Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass. The current fisheries management plan, revised in 2017, calls for spring Walleye fry stocking when surplus is available. In order to evaluate management goals, a lake survey was conducted in July of 2022. Compared to previous Skogman Lake assessments, catch rates were lower for Northern Pike, but similar for Walleye, Bluegill, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass and Yellow Perch.
Skogman has historically had a low Walleye population maintained by fingerling stocking. Despite the change to surplus fry stocking, the 2022 catch rate of 1.3 Walleye per net lift is very similar to the previous three assessments. Sampled Walleye were large, averaging 4.5 pounds, with all fish exceeding 20 inches. Aged Walleye were either 9 or 11 years old, both year classes correspond to fall fingerling stockings. Growth was typical, but the absence of younger fish indicates limited success of the 2017 and 2019 fry stockings.
Read the full DNR narrative
Since peaking in the 2013 assessment, The Northern Pike gillnet catch, 1.3 per net, is back near the historic lake mean. Average weight remains high though, at 4.7 pounds. Sampled northerns ranged from 24 to 32 inches in length with 60% of the catch exceeding 26 inches. The 2022 catch rate for Northern Pike fell short of the management goal.
The abundance of both Bluegill and Black Crappie was similar to previous assessments. While neither species had a particularly high size structure, one fourth of the crappies were over 8 inches in length and half the Bluegill exceeded 7 inches.
Night electrofishing the evening of June 6th yielded a catch rate of 51.3 per hour. Thirty eight percent of adult bass were 12 inches or greater in length with individuals over 19 inches present. The 2022 catch rate met the management goal, however the average weight of 0.9 pounds fell short of the 1.5-pound target.
Other species sampled in the netting gear included Black Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, Pumpkinseed, hybrid sunfish, Yellow Perch and Bowfin.
Anglers visiting Skogman Lake should expect light pressure due to limited parking and the public access. Opportunities are very good for quality sized Largemouth Bass and harvestable size Bluegill. Larger Northern Pike and Walleye are a possibility though their abundance is not currently high.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Skogman Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Skogman 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
- Skogman Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Skogman Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Fannie Lake · 360 ac · 2 mi
- Rabour Lake · 53 ac · 3.8 mi
- Mandall Lake · 47 ac · 3.9 mi
- Florence Lake · 135 ac · 4 mi
- Krans Lake · 35 ac · 4 mi
- Goose Lake · 732 ac · 5.1 mi
- Horseshoe Lake · 224 ac · 5.1 mi
- Little Stanchfield Lake · 146 ac · 5.8 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Skogman Lake?
Skogman Lake reaches 36 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 10.6 ft; about 59% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Skogman Lake?
Skogman Lake covers 228 acres with about 6.1 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Skogman Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Skogman Lake average 5 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Skogman Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2022) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Skogman Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Skogman Lake have a public access?
Yes. Skogman Lake has one public access site: Skogman Lake (trailer launch).
How big do largemouth bass get in Skogman Lake?
The biggest largemouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 19"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1996.
When was Skogman Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Skogman Lake in 2022, the most recent of 8 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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