Minnesota · Itasca County
Trout Lake Fishing guide
Trout Lake sits in Itasca County, Minnesota, and covers 1,743 acres, reaching 157 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 12.3 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 11 times, most recently in 2022, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Largemouth bassPresent (last recorded 2017)0.3per gill net7"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 43 fish
Recent · 2007Lengths measured · 2 fish
2017Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 13 fish
2015Lengths measured · 43 fish
2007Northern pikeJust a few1.3per gill net26"Typical34"Biggest
Lengths measured · 20 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 20 fish
2022Lengths measured · 31 fish
2017Lengths measured · 17 fish
2015Lengths measured · 18 fish
2009BluegillFair numbers46.6per trap net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 699 fish
Recent · 2007Lengths measured · 351 fish
2015Lengths measured · 699 fish
2007CrappieJust a few1.4per trap net6"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 23 fish
Recent · 2007Lengths measured · 9 fish
2015Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 23 fish
2007Present and managed by the DNR.
Last recorded in the 1985 survey and not seen since.
Rock bassOne of the best around3.9per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 59 fish
Recent · 2007Lengths measured · 2 fish
2017Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 33 fish
2015Lengths measured · 12 fish
2009Lengths measured · 59 fish
2007Rates 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 Trout Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 12.3 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 157 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 12.3 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 157 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 | Lake trout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 29" | 34" | 24" |
| 2017 | 25" | 30" | 34" |
| 2015 | 29" | 32" | 33" |
| 2009 | 28" | 31" | 31" |
| 2007 | 28" | 40" | 31" |
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
Lake trout · Trolling
Trout Trolling (spoons/cowbells)
2–3in trolling spoon behind a small cowbell/dodger string
Lake 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.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Lake Trout | 4,788 yearlings |
| 2016 | Lake Trout | 11,680 yearlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2022 survey
Trout Lake is located about 15 miles north of Grand Rapids in the Chippewa National Forest. Fish production is limited due to low fertility associated with oligotrophic conditions. Early records indicate Lake Trout were a large component of the fishery and has been a primary management species since 1975. Management consisted of frequent stockings. Most stocked fish were given a specific fin clip to help differentiate between stocked age classes and natural reproduction since 1990. Stocking was discontinued after 2017 due to poor returns.
The 2016 lake management plan (LMP) lists Lake Trout as a primary management species, with a deep-water gill net goal of 1.0/net. The 2022 targeted survey was conducted to evaluate the status of the Lake Trout population.
Read the full DNR narrative
Lake Trout are seldom abundant due to the nature of the cold, infertile lakes they inhabit. They often occupy deep, open water and can be difficult to sample, so low catch rates are common. Despite favorable conditions, catches in deep-water gill nets in Trout Lake have been low, ranging from 0.1 to 2.2/net since 1990. The 2022 catch of 0.2/net resembled the previous survey (0.3/net) and did not meet the LMP goal. All three captured trout had a fin clip indicating two were from the 2017 and one from 2016 stockings. Captured trout ranged from 21.8 to 24.8 inches. The lack of younger fish in the sample suggests natural recruitment has not contributed to the fishery in recent years. The limiting factors for Lake Trout are not clear but it appears recruitment has been poor over the last 20 years regardless of stocking efforts. Additionally, past sampling found preferred habitat may be limited some summers.
Tullibee are considered the main prey fish in Trout Lake and were abundant in the 2022 survey. The catch of 33.5/net was a high catch compared to most surveys. Tullibee were generally small in Trout Lake, making them an ideal prey item for large predators. The 2022 sample averaged 8.2 inches, comparable to previous surveys. Competition from coolwater predators did not appear to limit Lake Trout.
Deep-water gill nets may not reflect the numbers of other species, but Walleye and Northern Pike catches resembled previous surveys and have never been high. The fishery provides good opportunities for anglers to catch large or even trophy pike and Walleye. Both species appear to have high quality size structure as pike averaged 27 inches and a Walleye exceeding 29 inches was captured. Yellow Perch were the only other species sampled in deep-water gill nets.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Trout Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Trout 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
- County access: A county access (33 ft easement) is located on the north side of the lake at the resort. No parking is available except for fee at resort.
DNR bathymetry
Trout Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Little Trout Lake · 86 ac · 1.5 mi
- Bee Cee Lake · 29 ac · 1.6 mi
- Moonshine Lake · 26 ac · 2 mi
- Little Long Lake · 305 ac · 2.1 mi
- Spider Lake · 1,393 ac · 2.5 mi
- Johnson Lake · 434 ac · 2.5 mi
- Bluewater Lake · 364 ac · 2.7 mi
- Wabana Lake · 2,221 ac · 2.9 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Trout Lake?
Trout Lake reaches 157 ft at its deepest point; about 22% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Trout Lake?
Trout Lake covers 1,743 acres with about 13.3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Trout Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Trout Lake average 12.3 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Trout Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2022) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, lake trout, splake, rock bass.
Is Trout Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked lake trout in 2017; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Trout Lake have a public access?
Yes. Trout Lake has one public access site: County access (A county access (33 ft easement) is located on the north side of the lake at the resort. No parking is available except for fee at resort.).
How big do walleye get in Trout Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 29"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2007.
When was Trout Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Trout Lake in 2022, the most recent of 11 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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