Minnesota · St. Louis County
Upper Comstock Lake Fishing guide
Upper Comstock Lake sits in St. Louis County, Minnesota, and covers 267 acres, reaching 28 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 5.4 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 7 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Fair numbers1.8per gill net15"Typical22"Biggest
Lengths measured · 14 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 14 fish
2024Lengths measured · 26 fish
2016Lengths measured · 18 fish
2008Lengths measured · 14 fish
2000Northern pikeJust a few2.7per gill net24"Typical31"Biggest
Lengths measured · 30 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 30 fish
2024Lengths measured · 24 fish
2016Lengths measured · 29 fish
2008Lengths measured · 30 fish
2000BluegillJust a few3.8per trap net5"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 42 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 42 fish
2024Lengths measured · 42 fish
2016Lengths measured · 101 fish
2008Lengths measured · 72 fish
2000CrappieJust a few0.9per trap net7"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 39 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 39 fish
2024Lengths measured · 64 fish
2016Lengths measured · 66 fish
2008Lengths measured · 49 fish
2000Yellow perchGood numbers11per gill net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 72 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 72 fish
2024Lengths measured · 112 fish
2016Lengths measured · 64 fish
2008Lengths measured · 63 fish
2000No recent survey rating.
No recent survey rating.
Rates 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 Upper Comstock 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.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
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 | Largemouth bass | Smallmouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 22" | 19" | 14" |
| 2016 | 26" | — | — |
| 2008 | 27" | — | — |
| 2000 | 24" | — | — |
| 1995 | 25" | 3" | — |
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 · Trolling
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Ned Rig
2.75" finesse stickbait or craw-style Ned bait
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
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 | 130,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 130,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 130,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 260,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 260,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Upper Comstock is a small, relatively shallow lake located approximately six miles south of Markham, Minnesota. The lake is moderately developed and is connected to the Whiteface River by Gimlet Creek, an outlet on the western shoreline. Upper Comstock is also connected to Lower Comstock by a channel that is navigable by small watercraft. A state-owned public access is located at the north side of the lake.
The 2019 lake management plan (LMP) listed Walleye and Black Crappie as the primary management species and Bluegill and Largemouth Bass as secondary species. The primary goals are to manage for moderate Walleye and Black Crappie populations with balanced size structure. A standard survey was conducted during the summer of 2024 to update information about fish populations and to evaluate the effectiveness of the Walleye stocking program.
Read the full DNR narrative
Walleye fry are stocked into Upper Comstock at a rate of 1,000 per littoral acre (130,000) every even year. Walleye catch of 1.8 per gill net lift was below average compared to other similar lakes. Walleye average length was 14.7 inches with the largest measuring approximately 22 inches. Fifty percent of Walleye aged corresponded to stocked year-classes suggesting stocking may be contributing to anglers catch despite the below average catch rate observed.
Black Crappie catch of 0.9 per trap net was average compared to other similar lakes. Gill net catch was 5.2 per lift and is above average compared to similar lakes. The average length of Black Crappies caught in gill nets was 8.2 inches, but no fish over 10 inches long were sampled. Size distribution of Black Crappie was fair with 45% exceeding quality size (greater than 8 inches), but none exceeding preferred size (greater than 10 inches).
Bluegill catch of 3.8 per trap net was average when compared to other similar lakes. Bluegill averaged 5.9 inches in length, but several large fish over nine inches were sampled. Size distribution of Bluegill was good with 63% exceeding quality size (greater than 6 inches) and 13% exceeding preferred size (greater than 8 inches), but none exceeding memorable size (greater than 10 inches). Quality Bluegill populations exist in Upper Comstock and angling for them is expected to be good.
Spring electrofishing targeting Largemouth Bass captured 4 fish ranging from 13.9 to 19.2 inches long. Largemouth Bass have not been captured since 1993 which indicates the population may be slowly expanding. It appears that quality bass fishing opportunities may exist in the future.
Northern Pike abundance of 2.7 per gill net was average compared to other similar Minnesota Lakes. Average size was 24.9 inches with the largest measuring almost 30 inches. Northern Pike populations offer decent opportunities for anglers including some angler-preferred size fish available.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Upper Comstock Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Upper Comstock 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
- Comstock Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Upper Comstock Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Hart Lake · 49 ac · 1 mi
- Lower Comstock Lake · 160 ac · 1.2 mi
- Schubert Lake · 212 ac · 5.5 mi
- Long Lake · 199 ac · 5.5 mi
- Little Long Lake · 18 ac · 6 mi
- Cameron Lake · 168 ac · 6.3 mi
- Wilson Lake · 56 ac · 6.6 mi
- Spring Hole Lake · 2 ac · 6.6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Upper Comstock Lake?
Upper Comstock Lake reaches 28 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 12 ft; about 49% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Upper Comstock Lake?
Upper Comstock Lake covers 267 acres with about 3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Upper Comstock Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Upper Comstock Lake average 5.4 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Upper Comstock Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass, channel catfish.
Is Upper Comstock Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Upper Comstock Lake have a public access?
Yes. Upper Comstock Lake has one public access site: Comstock Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Upper Comstock Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 22"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1995.
When was Upper Comstock Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Upper Comstock Lake in 2024, the most recent of 7 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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