Minnesota · by county
Carlton County fishing lakes
Carlton County has 37 surveyed fishing lakes. Chub Lake grades A− for largemouth bass, the county's best fishery, and Big Lake grades A− for northern pike. Big Lake is also the largest, at 526 acres. Hanging Horn Lake is the deepest at 80 feet, one of 15 lakes in the county that reach 30 feet or more. The DNR stocks 12 lakes here.
A Guide lake has a full page with a depth map, DNR survey data, top spots and stocking history. A Survey lake has the survey data and stocking history but no depth map, because the DNR has not published one. The rest open in the live map.
Recent fishing reports in Carlton County →
Best by species: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill · Yellow perch
| Lake | Fish | Acres | Max depth | Last survey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Lake Guide | Walleye, Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch | 526 | 25 ft | 2020 |
| Hanging Horn Lake Guide | Walleye, Largemouth, Smallmouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Brook trout, Lake trout, Rock bass, Catfish | 409 | 80 ft | 2020 |
| Thomson Reservoir Guide | Walleye, Smallmouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Rock bass, Catfish | 390 | 22 ft | 2002 |
| Eagle Lake Guide | Walleye, Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Rock bass | 389 | 35 ft | 2025 |
| Park Lake Guide | Walleye, Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Rock bass | 381 | 16 ft | 2025 |
| Lower (South) Island Lake Guide | Walleye, Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Rock bass | 320 | 22 ft | 2024 |
| Chub Lake Guide | Walleye, Largemouth, Smallmouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Rock bass | 313 | 28 ft | 2020 |
| Moosehead Lake Guide | Walleye, Largemouth, Smallmouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Sturgeon, Rock bass, Catfish | 279 | 18 ft | 2023 |
| Tamarack Lake Guide | Walleye, Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Rock bass | 235 | 48 ft | 2021 |
| Fond du Lac Reservoir Guide | Walleye, Smallmouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Rock bass, Catfish | 201 | 59 ft | 2015 |
| Cole Lake Survey | Walleye, Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch | 142 | 24 ft | 2016 |
| Hay Lake Survey | Walleye, Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch | 140 | 14 ft | 2021 |
| Moose Lake Survey | Walleye, Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Rock bass | 133 | 67 ft | 2009 |
| Sand Lake Survey | Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch | 128 | 27 ft | 2016 |
| Little Hanging Horn Lake Survey | Walleye, Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Rock bass | 114 | 70 ft | 2025 |
| Upper (North) Island Lake Survey | Walleye, Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Rock bass | 114 | 25 ft | 2021 |
| Echo Lake Survey | Walleye, Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Rock bass | 108 | 47 ft | 2021 |
| Cross Lake Survey | Walleye, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Rock bass | 107 | 23 ft | 2009 |
| Bear Lake Survey | Walleye, Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch | 100 | 31 ft | 2015 |
| Scanlon Reservoir Survey | Walleye, Largemouth, Smallmouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Rock bass, Catfish | 71 | 65 ft | 2024 |
| Blackhoof Lake Survey | Walleye, Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch | 41 | 9 ft | 2015 |
| Forbay Lake Survey | Walleye, Smallmouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Brook trout, Rock bass, Catfish | 35 | 34 ft | 2022 |
| Graham Lake Survey | Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch | 34 | 21 ft | 2023 |
| Hizer Lake Survey | Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch | 34 | 9 ft | 2009 |
| Corona Lake Survey | Rainbow | 27 | 30 ft | 2007 |
| Springer Lake Survey | Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch | 8 | 50.8 ft | 2024 |
| Torch Light Lake map only | Walleye, Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie | 126 | 14 ft | 1997 |
| Venoah Lake map only | Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Perch | 110 | 25 ft | 2001 |
| Bob Lake map only | Walleye, Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch | 77 | 29.5 ft | 2003 |
| Coffee Lake map only | Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Rock bass | 71 | 53 ft | 1992 |
| Bang Lake map only | Largemouth, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch | 61 | 9 ft | 2001 |
| Knife Falls Reservoir map only | Walleye, Smallmouth, Bluegill, Rock bass, Catfish | 55 | 32 ft | 1992 |
| Twentynine Lake map only | Pike, Crappie, Perch | 52 | 25 ft | 2001 |
| Bear Lake map only | Crappie, Perch | 50 | 28 ft | 1993 |
| Spring Lake map only | Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch | 36 | 25 ft | 2004 |
| Eddy Lake map only | Walleye, Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Rock bass | 24 | 37 ft | 1998 |
| Rogers Lake map only | 7 | 10 ft | 1967 |
Quick answers
Fishing in Carlton County
What is the best fishing lake in Carlton County?
Chub Lake grades A− for largemouth bass, the highest grade in Carlton County on this site. Grades are based on DNR survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history.
How many fishing lakes are in Carlton County?
The DNR has surveyed 37 lakes in Carlton County, about 5,449 acres of water in all. 10 of them have a full guide page here.
What fish can you catch in Carlton County?
DNR surveys have found walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, brook trout, rainbow trout, lake trout, lake sturgeon, rock bass and channel catfish in Carlton County lakes.
Which lake in Carlton County is deepest?
Hanging Horn Lake, at 80 feet. The largest is Big Lake at 526 acres.
Are lakes in Carlton County stocked?
Yes. The DNR has stocking records for 12 of the county's 37 surveyed lakes. If a lake has a page here, it lists what the DNR stocked and when.
Featured guide spot
Your guide service here
Featured spots are bought one lake at a time. Sponsor a lake in this county and your listing runs here too, shared evenly with any other sponsor in the county. Free through December 31, 2026.
Then $20 a month from January. Cancel any time.
Survey years in grey are more than 20 years old. Surveys that old do not count toward grades.