Glen Schmitt

Green Lake in Isanti County is primarily managed by the DNR for walleyes and northern pike. But this 833-acre fishery east of Princeton shouldn’t be overlooked for its crappie- and largemouth bass-catching opportunities, either.

White Iron, at more than 3,000 acres, also has some depth appeal, maxing out at 47 feet – enough deep water to support cold-water fish species such as tullibee. While its tullibee population is a fishable one, they also provide a rich forage base for the lake’s walleyes, northern pike, and smallmouth bass.

There aren’t many lakes to choose from in Benton County, but from a fishing standpoint, Little Rock Lake is the best of the lot. At more than 1,300 acres, it’s also the largest lake in the immediate area, and it’s located right off Highway 10 between St. Cloud and Rice.

There’s a flowage in southern Minnesota that includes two lakes in downtown Albert Lea in Freeborn County: Fountain Lake and a larger body of water to its southeast – the town’s namesake, Albert Lea Lake.
At more than 2,600 acres, Albert Lea Lake is a good-sized fishery for this area. It’s also a shallow lake, with a maximum depth of less than 6 feet. That lack of depth could be considered both good and bad.

Itasca County’s Ball Club Lake, or Big Ball Club, as it’s known locally, is somewhat of a mysterious fishery. Its 4,335 acres feature deep, clear water and most of it includes incredibly, sharp-sloping shorelines – from 10 feet to 40 feet of water in a hurry.

As an entry point to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Lake Isabella has several interesting traits worth noting before you consider dropping a fishing line.
Due to the lake’s location within the BWCAW, anglers are required to obtain a day-use permit in order to fish it. Further, Isabella is a “non-motorized” lake, and it remains a scenic fishery, despite the visible remains of the 2011 Pagami Creek wildfire (three-quarters of the lake still doesn’t have mature trees around it).

At more than 1,100 acres, Sullivan Lake is one of the bigger bodies of water you’ll find in Morrison County. It has a direct connection with Platte Lake, via the Platte River, which means fish move between the systems, ultimately providing a diverse and solid fish community.

Located just north of Longville, and in the shadow of famous Leech Lake to its west, Boy Lake often gets overlooked by anglers. But it’s not because this 3,465-acre lake isn’t an exceptional fishery. In fact, you could make the argument that Boy is one of the best multi-species lakes in this area.