Maple Lake (Polk County)

Polk County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 60030500

DNR records show 13 stocking entries at Maple Lake (Polk County) since 2016, most recently walleye fry in 2025 (1,575,000 fish).

• Maple Lake (Polk County) has 13 DNR stocking records across 9 years (2016-2025): walleye (13).
• The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 11,160,689 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 14 ft; surface area 1,641 acres, 1,576 littoral acres, 19.8 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 4.7 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, freshwater drum, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.
• 4 public accesses on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: June 24, 2024 (targeted survey).
• Polk County, nearest town Mentor; DNR lake number (DOW) 60030500.

Depth map

Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 8/19/1971 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.

Stocking history

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2024

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.

Maple Lake is a 1,641-acre lake located in northern Polk County, two miles south of Mentor. The maximum depth is 15 feet and the shoreline is considered highly developed with homes and cabins. The lake receives heavy recreational use and angling pressure from the surrounding area. There are two public access points, one on the west end of the lake and another on the east end adjacent to the Rydell National Wildlife Refuge. Maple Lake's fish community provides angling opportunities for Walleye, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Black Crappie, and Largemouth Bass. This survey utilized only gill nets to evaluate the Walleye population in Maple Lake in June 2024. Anglers will find a high number of Northern Pike in Maple Lake. Most fish will be small, but there is a good opportunity to catch quality pike. The average size of the pike captured was 23 inches, but one 37-inch fish was measured. Additionally, 25% of the pike surveyed were over 26 inches. Walleye numbers were well above average for the lake and the average size was about 13 inches. About 25% of the Walleye captured in 2024 were over 15 inches and 15% were over 20 inches. There should be good numbers of Walleyes in the lake for years to come. Bluegill numbers continue to be good in the lake with plenty of fish over eight inches available for anglers to catch. Black Crappie up to 12 inches long were measured and in moderate numbers. Other fish species observed were Largemouth Bass, Freshwater Drum, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Brown Bullhead, and Yellow Bullhead.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, June 24, 2024.

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