Minnesota · Ramsey County
Snail Lake Fishing guide
Snail Lake is a 158-acre lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota, reaching 30 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 9.5 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 8 times, most recently in 2016, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets. That survey is 10 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Largemouth bassPresent1.2per trap net11"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 11 fish
Recent · 2016Lengths measured · 11 fish
2016Lengths measured · 6 fish
2010Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 1 fish
2004Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 15 fish
1999Northern pikeExcellent numbers15per gill net20"Typical34"Biggest
Lengths measured · 63 fish
Recent · 2016Lengths measured · 63 fish
2016Lengths measured · 30 fish
2010Lengths measured · 45 fish
2004Lengths measured · 56 fish
1999BluegillFair numbers33.4per trap net4"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 308 fish
Recent · 2016Lengths measured · 308 fish
2016Lengths measured · 188 fish
2010Lengths measured · 385 fish
2004Lengths measured · 571 fish
1999CrappieJust a few2.6per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 24 fish
Recent · 2016Lengths measured · 24 fish
2016Lengths measured · 8 fish
2010Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 11 fish
2004Lengths measured · 46 fish
1999Rates 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 Snail Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth.
- 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. With 82% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- 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.
- 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. With 82% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 34" | 16" | 12" |
| 2010 | 31" | — | 14" |
| 2004 | 36" | 12" | 11" |
| 1999 | 27" | — | 11" |
| 1994 | 27" | 22" | 32" |
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 · Hardbaits
Weedless Spoon + Trailer (Silver Minnow)
3/8–1/2 oz weedless spoon
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Walleye · Trolling
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Swim Jig + Paddletail Trailer
3.5–4.5" paddletail trailer on a bullet-nosed swim jig
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 | 130,000 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 130,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 130,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 130,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 130,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 130,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 130,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 260,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2016 survey
Snail Lake is a 148 acre class 38 lake located in northern Ramsey County. Snail Lake is primarily managed for Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike, with Walleye and Bluegill as secondary management species. Walleye fry are stocked biennially at a rate of 2,000 per littoral acre (260,000 fry). Snail Lake experienced a significant winterkill event during the winter of 2012-13, so additional Walleye fry, adult Black Crappie, and prespawn adult Largemouth Bass were stocked in 2014.
Northern Pike catch rate was 15 fish per net in the gillnets, above average for class 38 lakes and a significant increase from the 7.75 fish pet net sampled in the last survey in 2004. Sampled Northern Pike ranged from 15 to 34 inches, with an average length of 21.79 inches. over 51% of sampled pike were greater than 21 inches in length, 16% were greater than 25 inches, and 9% were greater than 26 inches. The largest pike sampled in 2016 was 34.5 inches in length. Two Walleyes were sampled in the trap nets at a catch rate of 0.22 fish per net. This is below average for class 38 lakes. Walleyes averaged 16.36 inches in length and were both from the 2013 fry stocking (age-3).
Read the full DNR narrative
Largemouth Bass are typically not sampled effectively by gill nets or trap nets, however bass catch rate was 1.22 fish per trap net, above average for class 38 lakes. Sampled bass ranged from 5 to 12.6 inches in length and the average Largemouth Bass sampled in 2016 was 10.48 inches long.
Bluegill catch rate was 33.44 fish per net in the trap nets, above average for class 38 lakes. Sampled Bluegills ranged from 2.36 to 7.56 inches, and the average length was 4.9 inches. Over 11% of Bluegills were greater than 6 inches in length and 4% were greater than 7 inches. Pumpkinseeds, Green Sunfish, and hybrid Sunfish were all sampled at above average abundance. Individuals greater than 8 inches were sampled of all three species.
Both Black and Yellow Bullheads were sampled at average to above average abundances in the trap nets. The average Black Bullhead was 7.77 inches in length, and the largest was 12.4 inches. The average Yellow Bullhead was 8.49 inches in length and the largest was 14.17 inches.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Snail Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Snail 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
- Snail Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Snail Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Island Lake · 59 ac · 1.5 mi
- Turtle Lake · 450 ac · 1.8 mi
- West Vadnais Lake · 212 ac · 1.8 mi
- Pleasant Lake · 607 ac · 2 mi
- Wabasso Lake · 43 ac · 2.1 mi
- Emily Lake · 13 ac · 2.3 mi
- East Vadnais Lake · 393 ac · 2.3 mi
- Owasso Lake · 375 ac · 2.8 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Snail Lake?
Snail Lake reaches 30 ft at its deepest point; about 82% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Snail Lake?
Snail Lake covers 158 acres with about 2.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Snail Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Snail Lake average 9.5 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Snail Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2016) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Snail Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Snail Lake have a public access?
Yes. Snail Lake has one public access site: Snail Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Snail 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 1994.
When was Snail Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Snail Lake in 2016, the most recent of 8 surveys on record. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.
Page updated .
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