Rabbit Lake Fishing Tips
Rabbit Lake offers anglers excellent opportunities for walleyes, bass, northern pike, and panfish within the Cuyuna Lakes region of central Minnesota.
Anglers looking to learn the lake faster or improve their success can book a trip with The Fish Guyd Guide Service, which specializes in fishing lakes throughout the Brainerd and Cuyuna Lakes areas.
Resorts Nearby
Ruttger's Bay Lake Resort
Cuyuna Lakes Stay
Country Inn Deerwood
Nearby Lakes
Rabbit Lake
Clearwater Lake
Bay Lake
Borden Lake
Nokay Lake
Cross Lake
Mission LAKE
south Long Lake
Species We Target
Walleye
Northern Pike
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Panfish
Rabbit Lake Fishery Summary
Rabbit Lake is a unique fishery located just north of Crosby in Crow Wing County within the Cuyuna Lakes region. The lake consists of two connected basins—East Rabbit Lake and West Rabbit Lake—which together provide over 1,200 acres of fishable water. A channel between the lakes allows fish movement and provides a public boat access for anglers.
Rabbit Lake has an interesting history tied to the region’s mining past. The eastern portion of the lake was drained and mined for iron ore in the 1950s before refilling in the 1960s and 1970s. The lake was reconnected to the western basin in 1978. Because of the old mining pit, Rabbit Lake reaches an incredible maximum depth of 337 feet, making it one of the deepest lakes in Minnesota outside of Lake Superior.
Water clarity in Rabbit Lake is excellent, often measuring 16–17 feet, and the lake features a mix of steep breaks, deep basins, weed beds, and shoreline structure. These features support a diverse fishery including walleye, northern pike, bass, crappie, and bluegill.
Rabbit Lake Survery Information
East Rabbit Lake
East Rabbit Lake covers approximately 670 acres and contains about 242 acres of littoral habitat. The basin includes the extremely deep former mine pit reaching 337 feet, while much of the remaining lake structure is shallower with depths around 30 feet. Approximately 38% of the lake is 15 feet deep or less, providing good habitat for aquatic vegetation and spawning fish.
DNR Survey Highlights
Walleye
Stocked every other year with 484 pounds of fingerlings
Catch rate: 4.0 per gill net
Average size: 20.1 inches
95% of fish measured 12 inches or larger
Northern Pike
Catch rate: 5.6 per gill net
Average length: 22.2 inches
35% of fish measured 24 inches or larger
Rabbit Lake has a 24–36 inch protected slot limit for northern pike.
Largemouth Bass
Electrofishing catch rate: 112 fish per hour
Average length: 12.2 inches
61% measured at least 12 inches
Fish up to 17.8 inches
Black Crappie
Catch rate: 0.4 per trap net
71% of fish measured 8 inches or larger
Fish up to 12.3 inches
Bluegill
Catch rate: 13.8 per trap net
Average size: 5.2 inches
8% over 7 inches
West Rabbit Lake
West Rabbit Lake covers approximately 536 acres and contains 165 acres of littoral habitat. The basin reaches depths of about 50 feet and features good water clarity around 17 feet.
DNR Survey Highlights
Walleye
Stocked every other year with 165 pounds of fingerlings
Catch rate: 4.2 per gill net
Average length: 18.3 inches
87% of fish were 12 inches or larger
Northern Pike
Catch rate: 7.3 per gill net
Average size: 22.3 inches
33% of fish measured 24 inches or larger
Fish up to 32.6 inches
A 24–36 inch protected slot regulation is also in effect for northern pike.
Largemouth Bass
Electrofishing catch rate: 87.4 fish per hour
Average length: 11.2 inches
41% measured at least 12 inches
Fish up to 18.3 inches
Smallmouth Bass
Present in low numbers
Fish sampled ranged from 10.6 to 19.1 inches
Bluegill
Catch rate: 22.9 per trap net
Average length: 6.1 inches
29% measured 7 inches or larger
Fish up to 9.3 inches
Black Crappie
Only five fish captured during the survey
Rabbit Lake Fishing Tips
Spring Fishing
(Water Temps: 38–55°F)
Spring fishing begins shortly after ice-out when walleyes and other species move shallow to feed and spawn.
Best Spring Areas
Wind-blown shorelines
Shallow sand flats
Channel areas between East and West Rabbit
Bays warming quickly in the sun
Spring Techniques
Jigging with minnows along shallow breaks
Slip bobber fishing near emerging vegetation
Casting shallow crankbaits along rocky shorelines
Recommended Lures
1/8–1/4 oz jigs with fathead or shiner minnows
Shallow crankbaits
Slip bobbers with leeches
The channel between the lakes can concentrate fish during early spring.
Trophy Largemouth Bass
Summer Fishing
(Water Temps: 60–75°F)
During summer, fish often move deeper and relate to structure and baitfish.
Best Summer Areas
Mid-lake humps
Deep breaklines near the mine pit basin
Weed edges in 10–18 feet
Rock points and shoreline structure
Summer Techniques
Live bait rigging for walleyes along deep breaks
Spinner rigs trolled along structure
Pitching soft plastics for bass
Recommended Lures
Lindy rigs with crawlers or leeches
Spinner harnesses
Texas-rigged plastics
Ned rigs or drop-shot rigs
Bass fishing can be especially productive during summer months.
Trophy Smallmouth Bass
on Rabbit lake
Fall Fishing
(Water Temps: 40–60°F)
Fall fishing improves as predator fish begin feeding heavily before winter.
Best Fall Areas
Rock points and steep breaks
Basin edges near baitfish schools
Remaining weed beds
Fall Techniques
Jigging large minnows along breaklines
Casting crankbaits along rocky shorelines
Vertical jigging deeper structure
Recommended Lures
Jig and minnow combinations
Blade baits
Deep diving crankbaits
Suspending jerkbaits
Walleyes often move shallower during fall feeding periods.
Client with
Big Largemouth Bass
Winter Fishing (Ice Fishing)
Rabbit Lake provides winter fishing opportunities for walleyes, pike, and panfish.
Best Winter Areas
Basin edges near deep water
Suspended crappies over deeper water
Weedlines in 10–15 feet
Winter Techniques
Jigging spoons tipped with minnow heads
Deadstick rods with live minnows
Tip-ups set along weed edges for pike
Recommended Ice Lures
Jigging spoons
Jigging raps
Tungsten jigs with waxworms
Tip-ups with sucker minnows
Big Largemouth Bass
Trophy Rabbit Lake Area Fish
We cover a large area in Central Minnesota, if you have any questions about a certain lake or a certain species of fish don’t hesitate to call. We are very accommodating and can come up with a plan to make any sort of trip work. If you need multiple boats we are also able to get more guides to handle larger group trips! Our goal is to make your fishing trip easy, comfortable, and full of fish catching excitement!