Minnesota · Hennepin County
Weaver Lake Fishing guide
Weaver Lake is a 152-acre lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota, reaching 57 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 5.9 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 9 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Northern pikeFair numbers9.3per gill net24"Typical37"Biggest
Lengths measured · 59 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 59 fish
2023Lengths measured · 3 fish
2020Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 38 fish
2018Lengths measured · 34 fish
2008BluegillFair numbers36per trap net5"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 434 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 434 fish
2023Lengths measured · 330 fish
2020Lengths measured · 430 fish
2018Lengths measured · 1915 fish
2008CrappieJust a few2.4per trap net7"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 59 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 59 fish
2023Lengths measured · 39 fish
2020Lengths measured · 111 fish
2018Lengths measured · 65 fish
2008Present and managed by the DNR. Standard survey gear does not count this species reliably.
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 Weaver Lake through the year
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 57 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.
- 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 57 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.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Northern pike | Walleye | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 37" | 20" | 16" |
| 2020 | 30" | — | — |
| 2018 | 35" | — | 20" |
| 2008 | 38" | 23" | 14" |
| 2002 | 33" | 20" | 19" |
| 1995 | 33" | — | 9" |
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:
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 · 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Tiger Muskellunge | 200 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2023 survey
Weaver Lake is a 152-acre lake with an average depth of 20.7 feet and a maximum depth of 57 feet. The lake is in the city of Maple Grove in north-central Hennepin County. Weaver is actively managed for Bluegill, with secondary emphasis on Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass. Weaver also supports catchable populations of Black Crappie. Public water access is provided by the City of Maple Grove on the west side of the lake off Minnesota Highway 101 (up to 10 vehicle/trailer parking spaces).
A standard survey (9 trap nets/6 gill nets) was completed on Weaver Lake during the week of 7/11/2024 to monitor water quality and fish populations. Water color was green, with low-moderate water clarity, measured at 6.0 feet during the time of this survey. Dissolved oxygen was zero parts per million (ppm) at a depth of 28 feet, meaning fish would be unable to use water depths greater than 28 feet during mid-summer.
Read the full DNR narrative
Moderate numbers of Bluegill were sampled with trap nets (36/net) near the expected catch rate of similar metro lakes. There were 324 Bluegill sampled in trap nets during the 2023 survey, with an average length of 5.4 inches, and the largest measured at 7.1 inches. Despite moderate numbers of Bluegill, growth remained slow, with less than 5% of fish sampled measured greater than 6.5 inches. Although Bluegill are abundant, relatively few large fish can be found.
High numbers of Northern Pike were sampled with gill nets (9.3/net), above the expected catch rate of similar metro lakes. There were 56 Northern Pike sampled in gill nets during the 2023 survey. Average size of Northern Pike in the 2023 survey was 25.8 inches with the largest measured at 37.9 inches. The current population appears well balanced (a middle ground between high numbers of small fish and few numbers of large fish). Despite high numbers, multiple fish were sampled greater than 34 inches, demonstrating the potential for these fish to reach desirable sizes. Northern Pike numbers are high and their average and maximum size would rival some of the best opportunities found in the area.
Largemouth Bass are present in Weaver Lake, although targeted boat-electrofishing did not occur during the 2023 survey. Incidental capture with trap and gill nets caught six Largemouth Bass, with an average length of 14.5 inches and the largest measuring 16.8 inches. Future surveys will include a targeted spring boat-electrofishing component.
Moderate numbers of Black Crappie were sampled with gill nets (6.0/net) and trap nets (2.4/net) near the expected catch rate of similar metro lakes. The Black Crappie population remains stable, with little variation in historic catch rates over the previous 30 years. There were 58 Black Crappie sampled during the 2023 survey, with an average length of 7.3 inches, and the largest measured at 11.9 inches. Despite the majority of small crappie, the presence of fish greater than 10 inches is an encouraging sign for the fishery.
Other fish species sampled in low abundance were Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Tiger Muskellunge, Walleye, Yellow Bullhead, and Yellow Perch.
Eurasian Watermilfoil, a submersed invasive aquatic plant has been found in Weaver Lake and remains present. Eurasian watermilfoil can limit recreational activities on water bodies by forming mats on the water surface and alter aquatic ecosystems by displacing native plants. The most important action that you can take to limit the spread of milfoil and other aquatic invasive plants is to remove all vegetation from your watercraft before you move it from one body of water to another.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Weaver Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Weaver 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
- Weaver Lake (trailer launch)
- Weaver Lake Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Weaver Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Rice Lake · 366 ac · 2 mi
- Fish Lake · 238 ac · 2.4 mi
- Eagle Lake · 296 ac · 5.1 mi
- Bass Lake · 183 ac · 5.2 mi
- Boundary Creek Pond · 11 ac · 5.3 mi
- Champlin Mill Pond · 37 ac · 7.4 mi
- Spurzem Lake · 82 ac · 7.6 mi
- Half Moon Lake · 33 ac · 8.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Weaver Lake?
Weaver Lake reaches 57 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 20.7 ft; about 50% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Weaver Lake?
Weaver Lake covers 152 acres with about 2.5 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Weaver Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Weaver Lake average 5.9 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Weaver Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, tiger muskellunge.
Is Weaver Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked tiger muskellunge in 2016.
Does Weaver Lake have a public access?
Yes. Weaver Lake has 2 public access sites, including Weaver Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Weaver Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 37"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1995.
When was Weaver Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Weaver Lake in 2023, the most recent of 9 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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