Minnesota · Itasca County
Wasson Lake Fishing guide
Wasson Lake is a 438-acre lake in Itasca County, Minnesota, reaching 67 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 17 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 4 times, most recently in 2010, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets. That survey is 16 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Northern pikeFair numbers6.7per gill net19"Typical34"Biggest
Lengths measured · 68 fish
BluegillJust a few22.8per trap net5"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 221 fish
CrappieJust a few0.4per trap net8"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 43 fish
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 Wasson Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 17 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 67 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.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 17 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 67 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.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
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
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
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.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2010 survey
Wasson Lake is located about 22 miles north of Taconite, MN, within the Mississippi River Watershed. The 415 acre lake has 208 littoral acres with a 67 foot max depth. The shoreline is moderately developed with very little public ownership. There is one resort with eight cabins and 45 private dwellings. Diverse aquatic plant life can be found along the 8.2 mile shoreline. Yellow iris was noted as being present around the shoreline. This species is noted as having invasive characteristics and is proposed to become a regulated exotic species. There is no public access to the lake.
Northern pike were sampled within the expected range for lakes similar to Wasson and similar to the previous assessment. The pike fishery can be characterized as having a modest size structure indicated by a 20 inch average and a top length of 35 inches in the gill net sample. Scale analysis indicated eight consecutive ages were sampled with fish up to age-8 in the sample. Back calculated length-at-age indicated growth was similar to the statewide average for all ages. Northern pike averaged nearly 24 inches by age-5.
Read the full DNR narrative
Black crappie were sampled at a rate exceeding the expected range in gill nets, similar to the previous assessment, while the trap net catch rate was lower than expected, also similar to the previous assessment. A moderate fishery exists for crappie with a few larger individuals in the population. Lengths ranged from 6.1-12.4 inches, in the gill net sample, with a mean length of 8.5 inches. Scale analysis indicated relatively consistent year classes with only one missing age class in seven years. Fish up to age nine were present in the sample. Back-calculated length-at-age indicated growth was slow early, but near the statewide average by age-3. Black crappie averaged 10 inches by age-6.
Bluegill were sampled at the upper end of the expected range, nearly double the previous assessment. Size structure was moderate with lengths from 2.9-9.2 inches and a 5.5 inch average. Scale analysis indicated consecutive age classes 3-9 were present in the sample. Growth was similar to the statewide average for lake class 25 up to age-6, whiles ages 7-9 were slightly faster. Bluegill averaged almost eight inches by age-7.
Yellow perch were sampled at a rate below the expected range, yet similar to the previous assessment. Lengths were typically too small to interest most anglers, averaging 6.7 inches.
Trap nets sampled two largemouth bass, 7.1 and 16.9 inches, age 2 and 7, respectively. This was the first assessment since 1970 to not sample smallmouth bass in any standard gear. Tullibee were not sampled in 2010, they had been present in every assessment except 1986. Gill nets sampled three walleye, with lengths from 19.3-22.6 inches. This was the first assessment to sample walleye since 1954. Records indicate no walleye stocking has occurred and the occurrence in the sample is likely resultant of illegal stocking activity.
Other species sampled in test netting included golden shiner, hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, and white sucker. As part of IBI (Index of Biotic Integrity) sampling, Iowa darter, blackchin shiner, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch were sampled in 5 seine hauls. Backpack electrofishing sampled bluegill, bluntnose minnow, central mudminnow, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, smallmouth bass, tadpole madtom, and yellow perch.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Wasson Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Wasson 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.
DNR bathymetry
Wasson Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- White Swan Lake · 165 ac · 1.5 mi
- Round Lake · 460 ac · 2.1 mi
- Long (Main Bay) Lake · 346 ac · 3.2 mi
- Scooty Lake · 167 ac · 3.8 mi
- Owen Lake · 268 ac · 4.2 mi
- Beaver Lake · 58 ac · 4.3 mi
- Bear Lake · 344 ac · 4.8 mi
- Antler Lake · 234 ac · 4.9 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Wasson Lake?
Wasson Lake reaches 67 ft at its deepest point; about 47% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Wasson Lake?
Wasson Lake covers 438 acres with about 8 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Wasson Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Wasson Lake average 17 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Wasson Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2010) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Wasson Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Wasson Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
How big do northern pike get in Wasson Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 34".
When was Wasson Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Wasson Lake in 2010, the most recent of 4 surveys on record. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.
Page updated .
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