Minnesota · Hubbard County
Third Crow Wing Lake Fishing guide
Third Crow Wing Lake sits in Hubbard County, Minnesota, and covers 643 acres, reaching 35 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 9.5 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 14 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers2.4per gill net17"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 25 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 25 fish
2024Lengths measured · 37 fish
2019Lengths measured · 65 fish
2014Lengths measured · 59 fish
2009Largemouth bassPresent0.7per gill net5"Typical14"Biggest
Lengths measured · 10 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 10 fish
2024Lengths measured · 56 fish
2019Lengths measured · 57 fish
2014Lengths measured · 3 fish
2009Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
No recent survey rating.
Northern pikeFair numbers7.6per gill net20"Typical36"Biggest
Lengths measured · 74 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 74 fish
2024Lengths measured · 111 fish
2019Lengths measured · 85 fish
2014Lengths measured · 58 fish
2009BluegillJust a few10.8per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 589 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 589 fish
2024Lengths measured · 287 fish
2019Lengths measured · 83 fish
2014Lengths measured · 61 fish
2009CrappieJust a few2.1per trap net8"Typical14"Biggest
Lengths measured · 111 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 111 fish
2024Lengths measured · 16 fish
2019Lengths measured · 43 fish
2014Lengths measured · 70 fish
2009Yellow perchGood numbers7.7per gill net5"Typical6"Biggest
Lengths measured · 69 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 69 fish
2024Lengths measured · 68 fish
2019Lengths measured · 279 fish
2014Lengths measured · 217 fish
2009Rates 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 Third Crow Wing 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 | 28" | 36" | 14" |
| 2019 | 21" | 33" | 18" |
| 2014 | 26" | 32" | 19" |
| 2009 | 27" | 34" | 16" |
| 2004 | 28" | 38" | 17" |
| 1999 | 29" | 33" | 19" |
| 1994 | 28" | 37" | 16" |
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 | 14,629 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 17,380 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 7,930 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 18,460 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 17,255 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Third Crow Wing Lake on August 1st, 2025. This was done to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on data collected from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth was 33.1 feet), the water temperature decreased to 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 18.8 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 17.0 feet at the time of sampling. Therefore, the water column did not contain a layer of water with sufficient temperature and dissolved oxygen for Cisco.
Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 22.2 degrees C (72.0 degrees F). TDO3 values warmer than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were unsuitable for Cisco at the time of the survey.
Read the full DNR narrative
This is the first Minnesota Department of Natural Resources temperature and dissolved oxygen survey completed on Third Crow Wing Lake during the period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th). When adequate oxythermal habitat is not available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Third Crow Wing Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Third Crow Wing 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
- 3rd Crow Wing Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Third Crow Wing Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Fourth Crow Wing Lake · 434 ac · 0.9 mi
- Island Lake · 225 ac · 1.7 mi
- Second Crow Wing Lake · 221 ac · 1.8 mi
- First Crow Wing Lake · 522 ac · 2 mi
- Palmer Lake · 146 ac · 3 mi
- Big Stony Lake · 343 ac · 3.2 mi
- Fifth Crow Wing Lake · 400 ac · 4.3 mi
- Duck Lake · 326 ac · 4.4 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Third Crow Wing Lake?
Third Crow Wing Lake reaches 35 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 12 ft; about 57% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Third Crow Wing Lake?
Third Crow Wing Lake covers 643 acres with about 7.2 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Third Crow Wing Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Third Crow Wing Lake average 9.5 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Third Crow Wing Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Third Crow Wing Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Third Crow Wing Lake have a public access?
Yes. Third Crow Wing Lake has one public access site: 3rd Crow Wing Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Third Crow Wing Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 28"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Third Crow Wing Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Third Crow Wing Lake in 2025, the most recent of 14 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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