Minnesota · Washington County
Square Lake Fishing guide
Square Lake is a 203-acre lake in Washington County, Minnesota, reaching 68 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 17 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 16 times, most recently in 2016, with largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill and crappie in the nets. That survey is 10 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Northern pikeJust a few5.8per gill net15"Typical37"Biggest
Lengths measured · 33 fish
Recent · 2014Lengths measured · 33 fish
2014Lengths measured · 35 fish
2008Lengths measured · 58 fish
2003Lengths measured · 54 fish
1998BluegillJust a few11.6per trap net7"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 301 fish
Recent · 2012 + 2014Lengths measured · 121 fish
2014Lengths measured · 180 fish
2012Lengths measured · 136 fish
2008Lengths measured · 175 fish
2003CrappieJust a few2.3per trap net8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 45 fish
Recent · 2012 + 2014Lengths measured · 34 fish
2014Lengths measured · 11 fish
2012Lengths measured · 10 fish
2008Lengths measured · 16 fish
2003Yellow perchFair numbers1.3per gill net9"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 10 fish
Recent · 2012 + 2014Lengths measured · 6 fish
2014Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 4 fish
2012Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 14 fish
2008Lengths measured · 12 fish
2003Present in recent DNR surveys.
Last recorded in the 1979 survey and not seen since.
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 Square 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. At 17 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 17 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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. On a lake that drops to 68 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
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 | Northern pike | Rainbow trout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 9" | 37" | — |
| 2012 | 12" | — | 21" |
| 2008 | 10" | 34" | 14" |
| 2003 | 13" | 36" | — |
| 1998 | 11" | 28" | — |
| 1994 | 10" | 34" | 13" |
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 · 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 · Trolling
Muskie Trolling (big cranks)
8–10" large diving crankbait rated for the target depth
Rainbow trout · Trolling
Trout Trolling (spoons/cowbells)
2–3in trolling spoon behind a small cowbell/dodger string
Rainbow trout · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2016 survey
Square Lake is a 203 acre, class 23 lake located in northeastern Washington County. The water quality in Square Lake is among the best in the Twin Cities metro area, a secchi disk reading in 2014 was 18.0 feet, and the lake supports a diverse near shore fish community. A near shore Index of Biotic Integrity survey (IBI) was conducted on August 10-11, 2016 to assess populations of non-game species, young-of-the-year (YOY) sport fish, and overall lake health using backpack electrofishing and seining. Electrofishing with a backpack unit and seining were conducted at 10 stations around the perimeter of Square Lake.
Eight different species including Iowa Darter, Johnny Darter, Banded Killifish, Blacknose Shiner, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Central Mudminnow, and Spotfin Shiner were sampled by backpack electrofishing. Bluntnose Minnow and Spotfin Shiner were the most abundant species sampled by backpack electrofishing. Thirteen species were sampled by seining including Iowa Darter, Johhny Darter, Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Central Mudminnow, Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, Spotfin Shiner, and Spottail Shiner. Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, and Spotfin Shiner were the most abundant species sampled by seining. (Insert info from Jacquelyn here)
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Square Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Square 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
- Square Lake (trailer launch)
- Square Lake Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Square Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Big Carnelian Lake · 457 ac · 1.4 mi
- Alice Lake · 26 ac · 4.9 mi
- Big Marine Lake · 1,799 ac · 5 mi
- McKusick Lake · 49 ac · 6.6 mi
- Lily Lake · 44 ac · 7.5 mi
- Goose Lake · 76 ac · 7.8 mi
- Bone Lake · 221 ac · 9.4 mi
- Shields Lake · 30 ac · 9.6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Square Lake?
Square Lake reaches 68 ft at its deepest point; about 32% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Square Lake?
Square Lake covers 203 acres with about 2.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Square Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Square Lake average 17 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Square Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2016) record largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rainbow trout, brown trout.
Is Square Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Square Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Square Lake have a public access?
Yes. Square Lake has 2 public access sites, including Square Lake (trailer launch).
How big do largemouth bass get in Square Lake?
The biggest largemouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 12"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Square Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Square Lake in 2016, the most recent of 16 surveys on record. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.
Page updated .
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