Minnesota · Cass County
Widow Lake Fishing guide
Widow Lake covers 198 acres in Cass County, Minnesota, reaching 46 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 16 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 9 times, most recently in 2022, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Largemouth bassJust a few1.8per hr (electrofishing)9"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 13 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 13 fish
2022Lengths measured · 39 fish
2020Lengths measured · 28 fish
2013Lengths measured · 51 fish
2006BluegillFair numbers40.7per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 366 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 366 fish
2022Lengths measured · 139 fish
2020Lengths measured · 117 fish
2013Lengths measured · 296 fish
2006CrappieJust a few7.7per trap net9"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 69 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 69 fish
2022Lengths measured · 174 fish
2020Lengths measured · 83 fish
2013Lengths measured · 56 fish
2006Rock bassExcellent numbers10.4per hr (electrofishing)6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 10 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 10 fish
2022Lengths measured · 16 fish
2020Lengths measured · 25 fish
2013Lengths measured · 71 fish
2006Rates 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 Widow Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 16 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 46 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.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. At 16 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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. On a lake that drops to 46 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- 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 | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 22" | 17" | 17" |
| 2020 | 28" | 17" | 32" |
| 2013 | 27" | 14" | 34" |
| 2006 | 26" | 16" | 30" |
| 1999 | 27" | 12" | 27" |
| 1994 | 25" | 19" | 28" |
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
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
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
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 | 1,850 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 2,074 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 303 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 1,776 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 3,478 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2022 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Widow Lake was conducted on June 21-23, 2022 by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program Staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all ten sampling stations, but one station was sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample seven stations, a 15-foot seine was used to sample two stations, and site conditions prevented the use of seines at one station. Nearshore sampling captured 15 species of fish including six species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Least Darter, and Rock Bass) and no species that are tolerant of disturbance.
A concurrent summer trap net survey was conducted by IBI Program Staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline and in shallow offshore locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Bluegill, Black Crappie, and Yellow Bullhead comprised a majority of the trap net catch by number and Bluegill, Bowfin, and Black Crappie comprised a majority of the catch by biomass. The number of Bluegill sampled per net was above the 50% quartile for similar Lake Class 31 lakes and the average length was 6.8 inches, with 42% over 7 inches.
Read the full DNR narrative
The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from an August 2020 survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
Data from this survey indicates Widow Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score, well above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Leech Lake River Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Widow Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Widow 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
- Widow Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Widow Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Sand Lake · 41 ac · 0.8 mi
- Sand Lake · 149 ac · 1.2 mi
- Blackwater Lake · 772 ac · 1.5 mi
- Island Lake · 184 ac · 1.9 mi
- Child Lake · 285 ac · 2 mi
- Big Deep Lake · 536 ac · 2.5 mi
- Long Lake · 246 ac · 2.6 mi
- Trillium Lake · 156 ac · 2.8 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Widow Lake?
Widow Lake reaches 46 ft at its deepest point; about 37% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Widow Lake?
Widow Lake covers 198 acres with about 3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Widow Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Widow Lake average 16 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Widow Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2022) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Widow Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Widow Lake have a public access?
Yes. Widow Lake has one public access site: Widow Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Widow 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 1994.
When was Widow Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Widow Lake in 2022, the most recent of 9 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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