St. Louis County, Minnesota
Loon Lake
Best fishing times today, in local lake time.
Today
Good day
Next major bite
4:26–6:26 PM CT- Major bite (moon overhead): 3:55–5:55 AM
- Minor bite (moonset): 1:03–2:03 PM
- Major bite (moon underfoot): 4:26–6:26 PM
- Minor bite (moonrise): 8:55–9:55 PM
- Sunrise
- 7:51 AM
- Sunset
- 5:53 PM
- Moon
- Waning gibbous, 74%
Times in Central Time. Updated 7:57 AM CT.
Conditions
- Air
- 24°F
- Wind
- 0 mph
- Sky
- Mostly Sunny
- Pressure
- 30.36 inHgRising (+1 hPa in 3 h)
National Weather Service hourly forecast; pressure from station KCDD at 6:53 AM CT.
7-day bite calendar
| Day | Rating | Major | Major | Minor | Minor | Moon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 3:55–5:55 AM | 4:26–6:26 PM | 1:03–2:03 PM | 8:55–9:55 PM | Waning gibbous, 74% | |
| Sat, Oct 31 | 4:57–6:57 AM | 5:26–7:26 PM | 1:44–2:44 PM | 10:17–11:17 PM | Waning gibbous, 63% | |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 4:55–6:55 AM | 5:22–7:22 PM | 1:14–2:14 PM | 10:40–11:40 PM | Last quarter, 52% | |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 5:47–7:47 AM | 6:12–8:12 PM | 1:37–2:37 PM | — | Waning crescent, 40% | |
| Tue, Nov 3 | 6:36–8:36 AM | 6:59–8:59 PM | 12:00–1:00 AM | 1:55–2:55 PM | Waning crescent, 30% | |
| Wed, Nov 4 | 7:22–9:22 AM | 7:44–9:44 PM | 1:16–2:16 AM | 2:11–3:11 PM | Waning crescent, 20% | |
| Thu, Nov 5 | 8:06–10:06 AM | 8:27–10:27 PM | 2:31–3:31 AM | 2:27–3:27 PM | Waning crescent, 13% |
What's biting on Loon Lake in October
Loon Lake covers 2,498 acres and is 76 ft at its deepest. These are the sport fish DNR surveys found here, and what each typically does in October in Minnesota lakes.
- WalleyeFall walleye feed heavily on rocky points and breaklines; dusk and after dark are often best.
- SaugerFall sauger school in deep water and feed heavily before winter.
- Northern pikeFall pike feed heavily along the last green weeds and drop-offs.
- Smallmouth bassFall smallmouth school on deep rocky structure and feed before moving to wintering areas.
- CrappieFall crappies school tightly in deeper basins and feed actively.
- BluegillFall bluegill move toward deeper weed edges and feed actively.
- Yellow perchFall perch school on deep flats and feed heavily.
- BurbotAs the water cools, burbot become more active along the bottom.
Loon Lake is a border water shared with Canada, so its seasons and limits follow the DNR's border-water regulations rather than the statewide inland seasons. Check current regulations.
Fish in Loon Lake
Species found in Minnesota DNR fish surveys of Loon Lake in the last 10 years or its latest survey (August 8, 2022).
- WalleyeSpawns over gravel and rock in the shallows soon after ice-out, peaking in 42–50°F water; in summer it holds deeper and feeds in the shallows at dawn and dusk.
- SaugerShares the walleye's habits but sees even better in dark or murky water, which keeps it in big rivers and stained lakes.
- Northern pikeSpawns in flooded, weedy shallows right after ice-out and keeps feeding in cold water, so it bites from spring through ice season.
- Smallmouth bassNests on gravel and rock in late spring and stays around rocky points, reefs and current through summer.
- Black crappieSpawns in May and June in shallow water in the mid-60s °F; schools roam open water and feed most at night, dawn and dusk.
- BluegillNests in colonies in firm-bottomed shallows from late May through much of summer, in 67–80°F water; bigger fish feed in open water.
- Yellow perchSpawns in early spring, draping egg ribbons over weeds and brush, and bites eagerly on worms all year, including through the ice.
- Rock bassNests over gravel near rocks and logs in late spring and stays close to rocky cover all summer.
- BurbotA freshwater cousin of the cod that spawns under the ice in mid to late winter, when anglers catch most of them.
Also found
- Cisco species
- Lake whitefish
- Redhorse
- White sucker
Lake facts
- Area
- 2,498 acres2,017 acres in Minnesota; shared with Canada
- Max depth
- 76 ft
- County
- St. Louis County
- Nearest town
- Crane Lake
- DNR lake ID
- 69047000
Source: Minnesota DNR LakeFinder (retrieved October 30, 2026).
Nearby lakes
- Lac la Croix10 mi
- Crane Lake10 mi
- Sand Point Lake14 mi
- Iron Lake14 mi
- Johnson Lake17 mi
- Big Lake17 mi