Minnesota counties
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Fishing in Pine County, Minnesota
Seat: Pine City. Northeast region.
- 50lakes
- 38accesses
- 21trout streams
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Pine County, Minnesota
Pine County, the basics
Pine County is run from Pine City and counted in the Northeast region. Pine County takes in 1,411 square miles of land and 23.3 square miles of water area.
Sturgeon Lake, Pine County heads the 50 county lake pages, which add up to 9,890 acres. Launch records count 38 public water accesses across the county (29 trailer launches). Trout stream rules cover 21 streams in the county. DNR surveys with catch data exist for 50 of the county lakes, 11 of them with walleye in the nets. There are 2 fishing piers or shore sites in Pine County.
50lake pages
38public accesses
21trout streams
2bait shops
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Fishing access across Pine County, mapped
Minnesota DNR access and fishing site layers and LakeFinder, checked October 2026.
Lakes
Lakes across Pine County
| Lake | Acres | Max depth ft | Accesses | Walleye per gill net |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sturgeon Lake, Pine County | 1,706 | 40 | 1 | 1.22 |
| Pokegama Lake, Pine County | 1,521 | 25 | 2 | 1.17 |
| Cross/Pine River | 925 | 30 | 1 | 0.58 |
| Grindstone Lake | 533 | 153 | 1 | |
| Sand Lake, Pine County | 527 | 47 | 1 | 2.22 |
| Island Lake, Pine County | 527 | 42 | 1 | 3.22 |
| Oak Lake, Pine County | 459 | 20 | 1 | 0.67 |
| Big Pine Lake, Pine County | 399 | 25 | 1 | 0.89 |
| Upper Pine Lake | 233 | 15 | 1 | |
| Bass Lake near Finlayson, Pine County, 228 acres | 228 | 24 | 1 | 1.17 |
| Fox Lake, Pine County | 200 | 14.5 | 0 | |
| Fish Lake, Pine County | 185 | 18 | 0 | |
| Net Lake, Pine County | 138 | 15 | 0 | |
| Grass Lake, Pine County | 125 | 7 | 0 | |
| Dago Lake | 118 | 20 | 1 | 1.7 |
| Rhine Lake | 116 | 8 | 0 | |
| Eleven Lake, Pine County | 108 | 49 | 0 | |
| Hay Creek Flowage | 102 | 10 | 1 | |
| Elbow Lake, Pine County | 99 | 33 | 0 | |
| Razor Lake | 98 | 36 | 0 | |
| Rock Lake near Pine City, Pine County | 88 | 32 | 0 | |
| Stanton Lake | 87 | 12 | 1 | |
| Little Pine Lake, Pine County | 81 | 17 | 0 | |
| First Lake, Pine County | 80 | 18 | 0 | |
| Graces Lake | 80 | 11 | 1 | |
| Rock Lake near Askov, Pine County | 79 | 11 | 1 | 1 |
| Rush Lake, Pine County | 78 | 37 | 0 | |
| Long Lake, Pine County | 77 | 24 | 1 | |
| Indian Lake, Pine County | 77 | 15 | 0 | |
| Tamarack Lake, Pine County | 71 | 47 | 1 | |
| Passenger Lake | 67 | 22 | 0 | 0.17 |
| Twelve Lake, Pine County | 65 | 31 | 0 | |
| Big Slough, Pine County | 62 | 14 | 0 | |
| McCormick Lake | 61 | 17 | 1 | |
| Little Tamarack Lake | 60 | 31 | 0 | |
| Pickerel Lake, Pine County | 56 | 10 | 1 | |
| Greigs Lake | 55 | 68 | 0 | |
| Wilbur Lake | 44 | 14 | 0 | |
| Second Lake, Pine County | 43 | 25 | 0 | |
| Close Lake | 33 | 37 | 0 | |
| Bass Lake near Finlayson, Pine County, 33 acres | 33 | 12 | 0 | |
| Grindstone Reservoir | 27 | 11 | 1 | |
| Clear Lake, Pine County | 26 | 39 | 0 | |
| McGowan Lake | 22 | 24 | 0 | |
| Little Bass Lake, Pine County | 19 | 28 | 0 | |
| Little Mud Lake, Pine County | 17 | 25 | 0 | |
| Headquarters Lake, Pine County | 16 | 7 | 0 | |
| Devils Lake, Pine County | 16 | 80 | 0 | |
| Kenney Lake, Pine County | 15 | 15 | 0 | |
| Keene Lake | 9 | 17 | 0 |
DNR LakeFinder morphology, access layer and latest survey per lake.
More waters
Smaller lakes across Pine County
The DNR knows 3 more waters in Pine County; each is listed with its acreage and DNR number.
| Water | Acres | Max depth ft | DNR number | Accesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed (Moose Lake) | 36 | 20 | 58006100 | 0 |
| Crooked Lake, Pine County | 58002600 | 1 | ||
| Unnamed (Finlayson) | 58019900 | 1 |
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, checked October 2026.
Streams
Flowing water across Pine County
- St. Croix River near North Branch, Pine Countyriver, 20 accesses
- Snake Riverriver, 11 accesses
- Kettle Riverriver, 8 accesses
- St. Croix River near Hinckley, Pine Countyriver, 1 access
- St. Croix River near Hinckley, Pine County, 0.2 miriver, 1 access
- Net Riverriver, designated trout stream
- Hay Creek, Pine Countycreek, designated trout stream
- Crooked Creek, Pine Countycreek, designated trout stream
- Sand Creek, Pine Countycreek, designated trout stream
- Crooked Creek, West Forkcreek, designated trout stream
Designated trout streams in Pine County
16 additional streams are on the DNR trout layer.
- Albrechts Creek1.5 mi, near Bruno
- Bangs Brook3.8 mi, near Askov
- Barnes Spring0.5 mi, near Askov
- Bjorks Creek2.9 mi, near Kerrick
- Cons Creek1.5 mi, near Askov
- Crystal Creek1.2 mi, near Bruno
- Grindstone River1.9 mi, near Sandstone
- Hay Creek0.9 mi, near Askov
- Larsons Creek2.9 mi, near Kerrick
- Little Hay Creek1.4 mi, near Hinckley
- Lost Creek2.2 mi, near Hinckley
- Mission Creek2.3 mi, near Hinckley
- Pelkey Creek2.8 mi, near Hinckley
- Spring Creek3.6 mi, near Hinckley
- Wilbur Brook4.1 mi, near Askov
- Wolf Creek3.9 mi, near Askov
USGS stream gauges in Pine County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Kettle River Below Sandstone, Mn | 469 cfs, 4.85 ft gage height | Nov 9 11:00 pm |
| Snake River Near Pine City, Mn | 1,090 cfs, 4.17 ft gage height | Nov 9 11:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 9, 2026 11:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
DNR designated trout stream layer.
Accesses
Launches in Pine County
- Bass Lake Access near FinlaysonBass, 1 ramp, 8 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet
- Big Pine Lake Access near FinlaysonBig Pine, 1 ramp, 10 trailer stalls, 1 dock
- Crooked Lake Access near BrunoCrooked, 1 ramp
- Cross Lake Access near Pine CitySnake River, 2 ramps, 20 trailer stalls, 2 docks, toilet
- Dago Lake AccessDago, 1 ramp, 4 trailer stalls, toilet
- Graces Lake AccessGrace, 1 ramp, 3 trailer stalls, 1 dock
- Grindstone Lake AccessGrindstone, 1 ramp, 10 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet
- Grindstone Reservoir AccessGrindstone Reservoir, 1 ramp, 6 trailer stalls
- Hay Creek Flow AccessHay Creek Flowage, 1 ramp, 3 trailer stalls, toilet
- Island Lake Access near Sturgeon LakeIsland, 1 ramp, 15 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet
- Kettle River, #1 AccessKettle River, 1 ramp, 4 trailer stalls
- Kettle River, #2 AccessKettle River, 1 ramp, toilet
- Kettle River, #4 AccessKettle River, carry-in access
- Kettle River, #5 AccessKettle River, 1 ramp, 8 trailer stalls
- Kettle River, #6 AccessKettle River, carry-in access, 10 trailer stalls, toilet
- Kettle River, #7 AccessKettle River, 1 ramp, 6 trailer stalls
- Kettle River, Sandstone AccessKettle River, 1 ramp, 5 trailer stalls, toilet
- Long Lake Access near RutledgeLong, 1 ramp, 2 trailer stalls, 1 dock
- McCormick Lake AccessMcCormick, 1 ramp, 6 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet
- Musclewood Lake AccessKettle River, carry-in access, 1 trailer stalls
- Oak Lake Access near KerrickOak, 1 ramp, 12 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet
- Pickerel Lake Access near KerrickPickerel, 1 ramp, 8 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet
- Pokegama Lake (N) AccessPokegama, 1 ramp, 8 trailer stalls, 1 dock
- Pokegama Lake (S) AccessPokegama, 1 ramp, 12 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet
- Rock Lake Access near AskovRock, 1 ramp, 8 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet
- Sand Lake Access near Sturgeon LakeSand, 1 ramp, 8 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet
- Snake River, Cross Lake AccessCross, 1 ramp, 20 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet
- Snake River, Little Walleye Landing Public Water Access Site (Pine County) AccessUnnamed, 1 ramp, 4 trailer stalls
- St. Croix River, #6 AccessSt. Croix River, 1 ramp, toilet
- St. Croix River, Head of Rapids AccessSt. Croix River, carry-in access, 5 trailer stalls
- St. Croix River, Little Yellow Banks AccessSt. Croix River, 1 ramp, 6 trailer stalls
- St. Croix River, Mouth of Sand Creek AccessSt. Croix River, carry-in access, 5 trailer stalls
- St. Croix River, Snake River AccessSt. Croix River, 1 ramp, toilet
- St. Croix River, St. Croix SPK Main AccessSt. Croix River, 1 ramp, 12 trailer stalls
- Stanton Lake AccessStanton, 1 ramp, 2 trailer stalls, 1 dock
- Sturgeon Lake Access near Sturgeon LakeSturgeon, 2 ramps, 22 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet
- Tamarack Lake Access near AskovTamarack, 1 ramp, 6 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet
- Upper Pine Lake AccessUpper Pine, 1 ramp, 8 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet
Where to fish from shore in Pine County (2)
- Cross/Pine River Fishing Pierfishing pier, Cross
- Grindstone River Fishing Pierfishing pier, Grindstone Reservoir
Minnesota DNR Public Water Access Sites and Public Fishing Sites.
Stocking
What the DNR adds to Pine County waters
Minnesota records from Pine County
| Species | Weight | Water |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Sturgeon | 94 lb 4 oz | Kettle River |
| River Redhorse | 12 lb 10 oz | Kettle River |
DNR area fisheries stocking pages and state records; area pages list mostly 2015 to 2017 reports and standing plans.
Limits
Rules on Pine County waters
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | 6 combined total (only 1 walleye over 20" in possession) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike (North-central Zone) | 10 (not more than 2 over 26", all from 22-26" must be immediately released) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike (North-central Zone) | 10 (either 2 northern pike over 26" and none from 22 to 26" or 1 from 22 to 26" and 1 over 26") | Nov. 15, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 except where prohibited |
| Largemouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 22, 2026 |
| Largemouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass (when smallmouth season is open) | May 23, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 22, 2026 |
| Smallmouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass | May 23 – Sept. 13, 2026 |
| Smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | Sept. 14, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Crappie | 10 combined total | Continuous |
| Sunfish | 20 combined total | Continuous |
| Yellow perch | 20 daily, 40 in possession | Continuous |
| Muskellunge | 1 (minimum size 54") | June 6 – Nov. 30, 2026 |
| Channel catfish | 5 (only 1 over 24") | Continuous |
| Rock bass | 30 | Continuous |
| Cisco (tullibee) | 15 (over 7") | Continuous |
| Burbot (eelpout) | 4 | Continuous |
| Stream trout | 5 combined total (only 1 over 16") | April 11 – Sept. 30, 2026 |
Pike and bass rows here are the North-central Zone rows, by the position of Pine City.
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations; lake pages show any special regulation.
Tournaments
Events permitted in Pine County
| Date | Event | Water |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-01 | 2026 Sturgeon Lake Lions 46th Annual Sunfish Contest | Sturgeon Lake |
| 2026-01-31 | 2026 Snake River Valley Conservation Club | Pokegama Lake |
Local help
Gear and guiding in Pine County
Pine County tackle stores
- Petry's Bait Companybait and tackle shop, Finlayson
- Red's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Pine City
Nearby
Around Pine County, up close
Pine County town pages
- Pine Citypop. 3,130
- Sandstonepop. 2,462
- Hinckleypop. 1,904
- Rock Creekpop. 1,682
- Sturgeon Lakepop. 436
- Willow Riverpop. 384
- Askovpop. 331
- Finlaysonpop. 295
- Rutledgepop. 212
- Brook Parkpop. 132
- Brunopop. 85
- Kerrickpop. 71
- Henriettepop. 57
- Denhampop. 37
Neighbors of Pine County
- Kanabec County28 miles west
- Carlton County35 miles north
- Chisago County42 miles south
- Mille Lacs County43 miles west
In photos
Shorelines around Pine County
Photo: Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Unknown author Unknown author or not provided, Public domain
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0
Answers
Answers for a day in Pine County
Where are the accesses in Pine County?
The DNR layer shows 38 public accesses (29 trailer launches).
Which lakes lie in Pine County?
Sturgeon Lake, Pine County, 1,706 acres.
Are there designated trout streams in Pine County?
21, each on the stream list above.
Which bass season applies in Pine County?
Pike and bass follow the North-central Zone around Pine City.
Can I buy minnows in Pine County?
2 shops, among them Petry's Bait Company.
Does Pine County have fishing guides or fish house rentals?
Not in our listings.
Do Pine County lakes hold walleye?
Survey catch exists for 50 lakes here, 11 with walleye.
Which city holds Pine County government?
The county government sits in Pine City.
Which Minnesota license fits Pine County waters?
Minnesota residents 16 to 89 need an angling license ($25 for the year); nonresidents 16 and older pay $51. Designated trout water takes a Minnesota angling license ($25 resident, $51 nonresident) and the $10 trout and salmon stamp validation for ages 18 to 64.
Give Pine County a day on the water
Each lake, access and pier above has its own page.