Minnesota · St. Louis County
Trout Lake Fishing guide
Trout Lake is a 7,425-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota, reaching 98 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 14.6 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 12 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Fair numbers1.3per gill net19"Typical29"Biggest
Lengths measured · 40 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 40 fish
2022Lengths measured · 9 fish
2018Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 15 fish
2010Lengths measured · 122 fish
2008Northern pikeJust a few1.3per gill net25"Typical35"Biggest
Lengths measured · 15 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 15 fish
2022Lengths measured · 3 fish
2018Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 7 fish
2008Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 4 fish
2006Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Yellow perchJust a few1.1per gill net6"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 13 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 13 fish
2022Lengths measured · 2 fish
2014Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 5 fish
2008Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 1 fish
2006Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lake troutLast stocked 2018Present, stockedPresent and managed by the DNR.
Present and managed by the DNR.
Lengths measured · 23 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 23 fish
2022Lengths measured · 27 fish
2018Lengths measured · 21 fish
2014Lengths measured · 54 fish
2012Rock bassExcellent numbers3.7per gill net5"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 44 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 44 fish
2022Lengths measured · 87 fish
2008Lengths measured · 367 fish
2002Rates 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 14.6 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 98 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.
Smallmouth bass
- Spring
- Smallmouth are on shallow rock, gravel and sand where they spawn. At 14.6 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Smallmouth are post-spawn on rock points, gravel bars and the adjacent breaks.
- Summer
- Smallmouth are on rock humps, points and hard-bottom breaks. On a lake that drops to 98 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Smallmouth are bunched tight on deep rock, so find one and you have found the school.
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 | Smallmouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 29" | 16" | 35" |
| 2018 | 28" | 16" | 35" |
| 2010 | 26" | 13" | — |
| 2008 | 26" | 14" | 39" |
| 2006 | 25" | — | 30" |
| 2004 | 24" | — | — |
| 2002 | 25" | 16" | 29" |
| 1998 | 23" | — | — |
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
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Smallmouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Tail Spinner
Compact lead body with a free-spinning blade on the tail
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
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 | 1,613,000 fry |
| 2018 | Lake Trout | 39,803 yearlings |
| 2016 | Lake Trout | 28,097 yearlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Trout Lake on August 5th, 2025. This was done to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Trout, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake (Cisco, also known as 'Tullibee', are also present). Lake Trout require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on data collected from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth was 85.3 feet), the water temperature decreased to 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) at 59.0 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration stayed greater than 3.0 mg/L for the entire sampled depth. This layer in the water column was 26.2 feet, indicating oxythermal habitat for Lake Trout was present.
Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was never reached because dissolved oxygen remained above 3.0 mg/L throughout the sampled depths. In this case, the minimum temperature, 7.9 degrees C (46.2 degrees F), was substituted as TDO3. TDO3 values cooler than 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Lake Trout at the time of the survey.
Read the full DNR narrative
Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 4 years during 2006-2023 indicated unsuitable oxythermal habitat in most years surveyed, with unfavorable conditions recorded in 2006, 2008, 2010 when there was no suitable oxythermal habitat layer. When adequate oxythermal habitat is not available, Lake Trout are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress. Despite the low values for oxythermal habitat since 2006, the latest three fisheries surveys, in 2014, 2018, and 2022, caught moderate numbers of Lake Trout in deewater 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
- US Forest Service access (permit required): Old truck portage from Lake Vermilion - 160 rods.
- US Forest Service access (permit required): Portage from Lake Vermiliion - 36 rods.
- US Forest Service access (permit required): Portage from Merritt Lake - 160 rods.
- US Forest Service access (permit required): Portage from Oriniack Lake - 160 rods.
- US Forest Service access (permit required): Portage from Pine Lake - 240 rods.
- US Forest Service access (permit required): Portage from Pine Creek - 80 rods.
- US Forest Service access (permit required): Portage from Norway Creek Road - 700 rods.
DNR bathymetry
Trout Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Little Trout Lake · 528 ac · 2.8 mi
- Oriniack Lake · 744 ac · 3.3 mi
- Dugout Lake · 57 ac · 3.3 mi
- Pine Lake · 830 ac · 3.6 mi
- Chad Lake · 265 ac · 4.3 mi
- Wolf Lake · 179 ac · 5.6 mi
- Vermilion Lake · 39,272 ac · 7 mi
- Bass Lake · 244 ac · 7.7 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Trout Lake?
Trout Lake reaches 98 ft at its deepest point; about 22% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Trout Lake?
Trout Lake covers 7,425 acres with about 68.6 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Trout Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Trout Lake average 14.6 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Trout Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, yellow perch, lake trout, rock bass.
Is Trout Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Trout Lake have a public access?
Yes. Trout Lake has 7 public access sites, including a US Forest Service access (Old truck portage from Lake Vermilion - 160 rods.).
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 1998.
When was Trout Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Trout Lake in 2025, the most recent of 12 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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