Minnesota · Mahnomen County
Tulaby Lake Fishing guide
Tulaby Lake sits in Mahnomen County, Minnesota, and covers 832 acres, reaching 43 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 7.2 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 2025One of the best around27.6per gill net11"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 249 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 9 fish
2023Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 240 fish
2021Lengths measured · 206 fish
2016Lengths measured · 179 fish
2011Largemouth bassJust a few10.1per hr (electrofishing)9"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 32 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 22 fish
2023Lengths measured · 10 fish
2021Lengths measured · 60 fish
2016Lengths measured · 8 fish
2011Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Northern pikeFair numbers7.1per gill net23"Typical32"Biggest
Lengths measured · 58 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 1 fish
2023Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 57 fish
2021Lengths measured · 38 fish
2016Lengths measured · 44 fish
2011BluegillFair numbers44.3per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 1302 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 311 fish
2023Lengths measured · 991 fish
2021Lengths measured · 815 fish
2016Lengths measured · 120 fish
2011CrappieJust a few0.5per trap net8"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 59 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 4 fish
2023Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 55 fish
2021Lengths measured · 32 fish
2016Lengths measured · 5 fish
2011Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Yellow perchOne of the best around83.3per gill net6"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 696 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 18 fish
2023Lengths measured · 678 fish
2021Lengths measured · 1243 fish
2016Lengths measured · 2018 fish
2011Rock bassOne of the best around12.3per gill net6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 175 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 38 fish
2023Lengths measured · 137 fish
2021Lengths measured · 70 fish
2016Lengths measured · 45 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 Tulaby 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. On a lake that drops to 43 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.
- 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 43 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 28" | 20" | 18" |
| 2021 | 25" | 32" | 19" |
| 2016 | 26" | 29" | 16" |
| 2011 | 25" | 29" | 10" |
| 2006 | 27" | 32" | 20" |
| 2001 | 29" | 32" | 15" |
| 1996 | 27" | 32" | 11" |
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 · Trolling
Muskie Trolling (big cranks)
8–10" large diving crankbait rated for the target depth
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
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 | 45,000 fry · 11,018 fingerlings |
| 2024 | Walleye | 220 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 10,351 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 517 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 4,409 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 4,380 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 19,046 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 500 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 738 fingerlings · 1,934 yearlings · 66 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Coldwater habitat is needed by certain fish species such as Cisco, particularly during summer stratification. One coldwater habitat measure, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreases to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3), can be used to indicate whether coldwater habitat conditions support Cisco. Water quality data were collected from Tulaby Lake on August 7, 2025. During this survey, the TDO3 (temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L) was approximately 70.9 degrees Fahrenheit at 24 feet, which was not colder than the state of Minnesota Cisco coldwater standard of 70.2 degrees Fahrenheit.
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected in the deepest basin in Tulaby Lake, which is located wholly within the White Earth Indian Reservation, on August 7, 2025. This work was completed 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. During the summer, Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 70.2 degrees Fahrenheit and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin, the water temperatures were not adequate until 25 feet, but oxygen concentrations then declined to 1.0 ppm. Oxygen concentrations increased to almost 3 ppm at 24 feet, but water temperature at this depth was 70.9 degrees Fahrenheit. TDO3 values cooler than 70.2 degrees F (21.2 degrees C) generally indicate that oxythermal conditions are suitable for Cisco, so this survey suggests coldwater habitat was minimal in August 2025.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Tulaby Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Tulaby 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
- Tulaby Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Tulaby Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Elbow Lake · 995 ac · 3.3 mi
- Little Bemidji Lake · 293 ac · 4.4 mi
- Snider Lake · 634 ac · 4.5 mi
- McCraney Lake · 270 ac · 4.6 mi
- Bass Lake · 735 ac · 5.2 mi
- South Twin Lake · 1,127 ac · 5.8 mi
- Many Point Lake · 1,701 ac · 6 mi
- Strawberry Lake · 1,498 ac · 7 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Tulaby Lake?
Tulaby Lake reaches 43 ft at its deepest point; about 34% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Tulaby Lake?
Tulaby Lake covers 832 acres with about 5.8 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Tulaby Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Tulaby Lake average 7.2 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Tulaby Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Tulaby Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Tulaby Lake have a public access?
Yes. Tulaby Lake has one public access site: Tulaby Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Tulaby 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 1996.
When was Tulaby Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Tulaby Lake in 2025, the most recent of 14 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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