Minnesota · Aitkin County
Sugar Lake Fishing guide
Sugar Lake sits in Aitkin County, Minnesota, and covers 416 acres, reaching 45 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 11 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 13 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers1.9per gill net15"Typical23"Biggest
Lengths measured · 34 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 8 fish
2024Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 26 fish
2021Lengths measured · 5 fish
2018Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 12 fish
2016Largemouth bassPresent2.5per gill net12"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 45 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 24 fish
2024Lengths measured · 21 fish
2021Lengths measured · 16 fish
2016Lengths measured · 104 fish
2011Northern pikeFair numbers9.8per gill net17"Typical37"Biggest
Lengths measured · 177 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 87 fish
2024Lengths measured · 90 fish
2021Lengths measured · 74 fish
2016Lengths measured · 126 fish
2011BluegillPresent5.4per gill net5"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 98 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 62 fish
2024Lengths measured · 36 fish
2021Lengths measured · 320 fish
2016Lengths measured · 151 fish
2011CrappiePresent4.6per gill net8"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 83 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 20 fish
2024Lengths measured · 63 fish
2021Lengths measured · 61 fish
2016Lengths measured · 67 fish
2011Yellow perchJust a few1.1per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 20 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 8 fish
2024Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 12 fish
2021Lengths measured · 44 fish
2016Lengths measured · 26 fish
2011Rock bassFair numbers0.6per gill net7"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 11 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 7 fish
2024Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 4 fish
2021Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 25 fish
2016Lengths measured · 26 fish
2011Rates 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 Sugar Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 11 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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 45 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.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 11 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 45 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 | Walleye | Northern pike | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 21" | 36" | 19" |
| 2021 | 23" | 37" | 18" |
| 2018 | 15" | — | — |
| 2016 | 26" | 33" | 19" |
| 2011 | 28" | 43" | 18" |
| 2006 | 20" | 36" | 17" |
| 1996 | 31" | 34" | 14" |
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
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
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
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 | 190 yearlings · 1,910 adults |
| 2024 | Walleye | 133,500 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 7,990 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 133,500 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 133,500 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 5,340 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 133,500 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 133,500 fry · 380 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Sugar Lake is a 398-acre lake located east of Glen, in south central Aitkin County, and has a state-owned public access on the south shore. About 60 percent of the lake is less than 15 feet deep, with a 25-foot basin in the east end of the lake and a 45-foot basin in the south-central part of the lake. The water is moderately clear with a green color from light algae blooms. Anglers will find several species in Sugar Lake, including Walleye, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, Rock Bass and an occasional Smallmouth Bass.
Walleye gill net catch rates, which have been variable but generally low over time, decreased from 2.89 per net in 2021 to 0.89 per net in 2024. No Walleye were captured younger than age 5, and only three year classes were present (age 5, 7, and 9). Walleye averaged 19.0 inches in length and ranged from 16.3 to 21.7 inches. An experimental fry stocking program was not successful in augmenting the population. Most (80%) of the Walleye captured in 2024 were from the 2019 year class, which was a year stocked with fingerlings.
Read the full DNR narrative
The gill net catch rate for Northern Pike remained stable and within the expected range for the lake class at 9.7 per net, similar to 2021 (10.0 per net). Quality size structure exists in Sugar Lake for Northern Pike. Northern Pike ranged from 6.8 to 36.6 inches, and 17% were 26 inches or larger. Nine individuals captured were greater than 30.0 inches. There has been an increasing trend of large pike in surveys since 1970, and because Northern Pike have shown the potential to grow large in Sugar Lake, anglers are encouraged to continue recycling these larger fish.
Black Crappie catch rates decreased from 7.0 per net in 2021 to 2.2 per net in 2024. In 2021, the strongest cohorts were age 9 (2012) and age 3 (2018) fish, and neither of these cohorts were present in the 2024 sample. It is probable that the 2012 year class is no longer present due to old-age, however, it is unclear why no 2018 year class fish were observed. Crappies ranged in length from 3.9 to 12.6 inches and averaged 8.0 inches. Twenty-five percent of Crappies were 10 inches or larger, suggesting Sugar Lake continues to be capable of producing quality and preferred-size Crappies.
Largemouth Bass were abundant in the gill nets (2.7 per net) and like many other area lakes appear to have increased over time. They ranged from 6.8 to 19.6 inches and averaged 12.7 inches. One 17.7-inch Smallmouth Bass was captured in 2024, the first sampled in Sugar Lake in a gill net since 2011. While rare, young-of-the-year and adults have been captured sporadically since 1990 in various survey gears. Currently, anglers can expect to find a targetable population of Largemouth Bass, however, targeting Smallmouth Bass will likely be less productive.
While there is no overall trend in Perch abundance, the 2024 catch rate was the lowest observed since 1974 and it appears they have been declining in the gill net samples over the last 6 surveys. Perch are exceedingly important as food items for Walleye and Northern Pike. Other species sampled in 2024 included Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, and Rock Bass.
Due to Sugar Lake's proximity to Mille Lacs, aquatic invasive species are of great concern. Anglers are encouraged to take extra precautions to help stop the spread of invasive species.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Sugar Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Sugar 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
- Sugar Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Sugar Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Clear Lake · 574 ac · 1.7 mi
- Rabbit Lake · 212 ac · 4.3 mi
- Long Lake · 435 ac · 5 mi
- Dam Lake · 598 ac · 6.6 mi
- Section Twelve Lake · 170 ac · 6.8 mi
- Section Ten Lake · 436 ac · 7.7 mi
- Elm Island Lake · 520 ac · 7.7 mi
- Porcupine Lake · 51 ac · 7.9 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Sugar Lake?
Sugar Lake reaches 45 ft at its deepest point; about 64% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Sugar Lake?
Sugar Lake covers 416 acres with about 4.1 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Sugar Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Sugar Lake average 11 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Sugar Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Sugar Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Sugar Lake have a public access?
Yes. Sugar Lake has one public access site: Sugar Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Sugar Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 23"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1996.
When was Sugar Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Sugar Lake in 2024, the most recent of 13 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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