Saganaga Lake

Air

31°F

Wind

5 mph W

Sky

Mostly Sunny

National Weather Service hourly forecast.

Saganaga Lake covers 18,767 acres and is 280 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.
• 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.
• Yellow perchFall perch school on deep flats and feed heavily.
• Lake troutLake trout spawn on rocky reefs in fall.
• BurbotAs the water cools, burbot become more active along the bottom.

Saganaga 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.

The DNR lists special fishing regulations for Saganaga Lake; check them on its LakeFinder page before you go.

Species found in Minnesota DNR fish surveys of Saganaga Lake in the last 10 years or its latest survey (August 24, 2023).

• 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.
• 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.
• PumpkinseedNests in colonies from May well into summer, often beside bluegill, and feeds heavily on snails.
• Yellow perchSpawns in early spring, draping egg ribbons over weeds and brush, and bites eagerly on worms all year, including through the ice.
• Lake troutLives in deep, cold, clear northern lakes; it comes shallow after ice-out and in late fall and stays deep while the surface is warm.
• 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
• Rainbow smelt
• White sucker