Antler Lake
Itasca County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 31034900
Antler Lake has no DNR stocking rows in LakeFinder; this page carries its DNR depth, access and survey data.
- Antler Lake shows no stocking records in Minnesota DNR LakeFinder as of .
- Maximum depth 90 ft; surface area 234 acres, 76 littoral acres, 4.0 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 10.0 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- Itasca County, nearest town Bigfork; DNR lake number (DOW) 31034900.
Depth map
Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey; depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| concrete ramp | Minnesota DNR | - NW SHORE OF THE LAKE; SE 1/4 SEC. OF SEC. 36. STATE OWNED; ACCESSIBLE VIA CO ROAD 341. |
DNR fish survey, 2025
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 27.67 | 249 | 0.10 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard trap nets | 2.22 | 20 | 0.23 |
| Hybrid sunfish | Standard trap nets | 1.00 | 9 | 0.28 |
| Northern pike | Standard trap nets | 0.89 | 8 | 2.14 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 0.78 | 7 | 0.38 |
| Rock bass | Standard trap nets | 0.67 | 6 | 0.25 |
| Yellow bullhead | Standard trap nets | 0.33 | 3 | 0.67 |
| Yellow perch | Standard trap nets | 0.22 | 2 | 0.12 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 3.33 | 30 | 3.56 |
| Black crappie | Standard gill nets | 2.33 | 21 | 0.45 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard gill nets | 1.00 | 9 | 0.98 |
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 0.89 | 8 | 0.10 |
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 0.67 | 6 | 4.93 |
| Bluegill | Standard gill nets | 0.56 | 5 | 0.16 |
| Rock bass | Standard gill nets | 0.33 | 3 | 0.42 |
| Tullibee (cisco) | Standard gill nets | 0.22 | 2 | 0.40 |
Catch per net (CPUE) is the DNR survey's count per gill net or trap net set; higher means more of that species were sampled, not a fishing forecast. Top species per gear shown; where we have no verified common name for a DNR code, the code itself is shown.
Antler Lake is a 306-acre lake located about nine miles southeast of Bigfork, Minnesota. It's a deep, clear lake-reaching depths of up to 90 feet-with water clarity around 10 feet. During the summer, oxygen levels drop off below about 65-70 feet, which limits usable habitat for fish. However, the upper portion of the lake still provides enough cool, oxygen-rich water to support cold-water species. For anglers, this means fish are generally concentrated in the upper and mid-depth zones during the warmer months, making them more predictable to locate. A concrete public boat access on the northwest side provides easy entry. Northern Pike are the primary management focus in Antler Lake, and the fishery is geared toward producing quality-sized fish rather than high numbers. Anglers can expect moderate catch rates, but with a strong chance of hooking into desirable sized fish. Recent sampling showed an average of 3.3 pike per gill net, which is close to the lake's historical average. Pike ranged from 17 to 31 inches, with an average length of about 25 inches. Notably, most fish were in the desirable size range-about 87% were over 21 inches, and nearly a quarter exceeded 28 inches. This size structure favors anglers looking for larger, more memorable catches rather than frequent action with smaller fish. Consistent reproduction and a wide range of age classes also suggest this fishery should remain stable. Black Crappie are present in lower numbers, but they offer occasional opportunities for anglers willing to put in the time. Most crappie caught were under 10 inches, although a few fish reached up to 13.5 inches. The population appears to reproduce regularly, but only a small portion of fish grow into larger, keeper sizes. Anglers may find inconsistent success, with some year classes providing better fishing than others. Bluegill are abundant and provide steady action, especially for anglers targeting panfish. However, size is a limiting factor. Most Bluegill are between 3 and 6 inches, with relatively few fish exceeding that range. Only about a quarter of the population is over 6 inches, and fish larger than 8 inches are rare. This makes Antler Lake a good option for numbers, but less ideal for anglers seeking larger "keeper" Bluegill. Walleye are present but at low densities. Anglers targeting walleye should expect limited opportunities, although the fish that are caught tend to be larger, ranging from about 22 to 26 inches. These fish are likely older individuals, and the low numbers suggest this is not a primary Walleye lake. Yellow Perch are also found…
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
All Minnesota stockings · every Minnesota lake with a page · state CSV · this lake on DNR LakeFinder
Stocking rows, depths, accesses and survey figures are Minnesota DNR LakeFinder data as of 2026-09-02; contours are the DNR bathymetric survey. Regulations, slot limits and special rules are on the DNR page linked above, not here.
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