Best fishing lakes in Minnesota: 12 lakes and what bites

The lakes at a glance

1. Leech Lake

At 103,000 acres of water, Leech Lake is a huge piece of water. It holds walleye, muskie, northern pike and yellow perch. The deepest water is around 156 ft. Its bed shows three steep ledges and a wind-blown bank worth a first look.

Leech Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Lake Vermilion

At 39,300 acres, Lake Vermilion is a big lake. The fish here are walleye, muskie, northern pike and smallmouth bass. It goes down to about 76 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a wind-blown bank worth a first look.

Lake Vermilion today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Lake Mille Lacs

Lake Mille Lacs covers 132,000 acres. Expect walleye, smallmouth bass, muskie and yellow perch. At about 42 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. The lake bed gives you two point drop-offs and an upper arm to work.

Lake Mille Lacs today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Lake Minnetonka

Lake Minnetonka spreads over 14,500 acres. It holds largemouth bass, muskie, northern pike and bluegill. It goes down to about 113 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Lake Minnetonka today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Red Lake

Red Lake covers some 282,000 acres. It lies right by Redby. The fish here are walleye, northern pike, yellow perch and bluegill. At about 35 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. The lake bed gives you two point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. Red Lake is the largest lake located entirely within the state of Minnesota.

Red Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Burntside Lake

At 7,140 acres of water, Burntside Lake is a good-sized lake. The lake is about 3 miles southeast of Ely. Lake trout, smallmouth bass, walleye and northern pike are the draw. At about 126 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Burntside Lake near Ely contains more than 100 islands.

Burntside Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Cass Lake

Cass Lake covers 16,000 acres of water. You will find it about 12 miles west of Bemidji. Walleye, northern pike, muskie and yellow perch are the draw. At about 120 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Cass Lake contains Star Island, which itself holds a small lake, Lake Windigo - a rare lake-within-an-island-within-a-lake.

Cass Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Lake Bemidji

Lake Bemidji spreads over 7,000 acres of water. It lies next to Bemidji. Largemouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch and walleye are the draw. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look. Lake Bemidji lies along the Mississippi River just downstream of its headwaters at Lake Itasca.

Lake Bemidji today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Lake Traverse

Lake Traverse spreads over 11,200 acres of water. It lies near Wheaton. Expect walleye, northern pike, crappie and white bass. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start. Lake Traverse sits at the southern tip of the Hudson Bay watershed, draining north via the Bois de Sioux and Red Rivers.

Lake Traverse today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Brule Lake

At some 4,270 acres, Brule Lake is a good-sized lake. The lake is about 18 miles southeast of Grand Marais. Walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass and yellow perch are the draw. At about 78 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Brule Lake is the largest lake located entirely within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness that is closed to motorboats.

Brule Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Big Stone Lake

At 12,600 acres of water, Big Stone Lake is a big lake. It lies right by Ortonville. It holds walleye, northern pike and bluegill. The deepest water is around 16 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. Big Stone Lake, source of the Minnesota River, marks South Dakota's lowest point in elevation at 965 feet.

Big Stone Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Otter Tail Lake

Otter Tail Lake spreads over some 13,700 acres. The lake is near Perham. Walleye and northern pike are the draw. The deepest water is around 120 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. Otter Tail Lake ranks as the tenth-largest lake located entirely within Minnesota.

Otter Tail Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Pick by species

Lakes listed for a fish are the ones on this page where it is on record or typical for the lake.

• Bass: Lake Vermilion, Lake Mille Lacs, Lake Minnetonka and Burntside Lake
• Walleye: Leech Lake, Lake Vermilion, Lake Mille Lacs and Lake Minnetonka
• Trout: Burntside Lake
• Crappie: Red Lake, Lake Bemidji and Lake Traverse
• Pike and muskie: Leech Lake, Lake Vermilion, Lake Mille Lacs and Lake Minnetonka

When to go

• Spring: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Summer: walleye are usually fair. Warm surface. They go deep in the day; try evenings.
• Fall: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Winter: walleye are usually fair. Cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

Before you go

Buy a Minnesota fishing licence before the trip and read the state's rules for each lake: seasons, size and bag limits change from water to water. Each lake page on LakeScope shows today's water temperature, the wind, the best bite times and a 3-D view of the bed, so check it the morning you go.