What is the deepest lake in Minnesota?

Of the lakes with a published depth, Leech Lake is the deepest at about 156 ft.

Deepest lakes in Minnesota: 10 lakes ranked by depth

Which lakes in Minnesota go deepest? These 10 have a published maximum depth, from Leech Lake at about 156 ft down.

Deepest first

#	Lake	Deepest	Size
1	Leech Lake	about 156 ft	103,000 acres
2	Namakan Lake	about 150 ft	25,100 acres
3	Burntside Lake	about 126 ft	7,140 acres
4	Cass Lake	about 120 ft	16,000 acres
5	Otter Tail Lake	about 120 ft	13,700 acres
6	Lake Minnetonka	about 113 ft	14,500 acres
7	White Bear Lake	about 83 ft	2,430 acres
8	Brule Lake	about 78 ft	4,270 acres
9	Lake Vermilion	about 76 ft	39,300 acres
10	Lake Winnibigoshish	about 70 ft	56,500 acres

1. Leech Lake

Leech Lake spreads over some 103,000 acres. The fish here are walleye, muskie, northern pike and yellow perch. At about 156 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. 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. Namakan Lake

Namakan Lake spreads over 25,100 acres. You will find it about 15 miles west of International Falls. The usual Minnesota mix applies: walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. It goes down to about 150 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Namakan Lake straddles the U.S.-Canada border and forms part of Voyageurs National Park's chain of large lakes.

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

3. Burntside Lake

Burntside Lake is a natural lake of 7,140 acres. It lies about 3 miles southeast of Ely. Expect lake trout, smallmouth bass, walleye and northern pike. At about 126 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. Burntside Lake near Ely contains more than 100 islands.

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

4. Cass Lake

Cass Lake spreads over 16,000 acres of water. You will find it near Bemidji. Walleye, northern pike, muskie and yellow perch are the draw. It goes down to about 120 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. 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

5. Otter Tail Lake

Otter Tail Lake is a natural lake of 13,700 acres of water. You will find it about 11 miles north of Perham. It holds walleye and northern pike. The deepest water is around 120 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look.

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

6. Lake Minnetonka

Lake Minnetonka spreads over 14,500 acres. Expect largemouth bass, muskie, northern pike and bluegill. It goes down to about 113 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

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

7. White Bear Lake

White Bear Lake covers some 2,430 acres. You will find it within an easy drive of Woodbury (about 9 miles). Like most lakes its size in Minnesota, it should hold walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and yellow perch. It goes down to about 83 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Mark Twain described White Bear Lake as a premier summer resort in his 1883 book Life on the Mississippi.

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

8. Brule Lake

At 4,270 acres of water, Brule Lake is a good-sized lake. You will find it near Grand Marais. Expect walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. It goes down to about 78 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. 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

9. Lake Vermilion

Lake Vermilion covers 39,300 acres of water. Expect walleye, muskie, northern pike and smallmouth bass. At about 76 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a wind-blown bank to work.

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

10. Lake Winnibigoshish

Lake Winnibigoshish covers 56,500 acres of water. The lake is near Cohasset. Lake Winnibigoshish Dam holds it on the Mississippi. The usual Minnesota mix applies: walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and yellow perch. It goes down to about 70 ft. The lake bed gives you three steep ledges and an upper arm to work.

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

Fishing deep water

In summer a deep lake splits into a warm top layer and a cold bottom; fish hold near the line between them, often 20 to 40 ft down. A depth finder, a slow troll or a jig dropped straight down finds them.