Upper Sucker

Upper Sucker Lake is 113-acre lake is located approximately nine miles east of Cass Lake, Minnesota. The lake has 4.2 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 25 feet. There is a US Forest Service owned earthen boat access on the channel between Middle Sucker and Upper Sucker lakes. The access is suitable for small boats, canoes, and kayaks due to the shallow water and limited maneuvering area at the launch. Parking space is also limited. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has classified Minnesota lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Upper Sucker Lake is in Lake Class 28; lakes in the class are small, clear and regularly (bowl shape) shaped lakes. Other Walker Area Lake Class 28 lakes include Kerr (DOW# 11-0268), Cedar (DOW# 11-0289), Johnson (DOW# 11-0363), and Rat (DOW# 11-0285). Upper, Middle, and Lower Sucker (DOW # 11-0313) lakes are connected by a small stream channel and these lakes are connected to Leech Lake (DOW# 11-0203) through Sucker Creek (Kittle # M-146-010). This connectivity allows fish migration among the lakes and facilitates recovery of fish communities from occasional winter kills. The entire shoreline of Upper Sucker Lake is undeveloped and publicly owned by the US Forest Service and the State of Minnesota. Boating, fishing, and wildlife viewing on this lake are similar to a wilderness experience. Historically, partial winterkills occasionally occurred on Upper Sucker Lake, but game fish populations recover to healthy levels during extended periods during which winterkills do not occur. No aquatic invasive species have been documented in Upper Sucker Lake. Angling for Northern Pike, Bluegill, and Black Crappie can be quite productive on Upper Sucker Lake. Northern Pike were abundant and averaged 19 inches in length with fish over 26 inches long in the sample. Bluegills numbers were low compared to other Lake Class 28 lakes, but the lake is known for Bluegills 8 inches or longer. Black Crappie were small, averaging 7 inches in length yet fish over 10 inches in length were present. Most of the Black Crappie in the sample were two years old and will be reaching 10 inches in length by the 2023 season. No Largemouth Bass were sampled. Other fish species available for anglers to catch are Black Bullhead, Bowfin (Dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Bullhead, and Yellow Perch. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Currently no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Upper Sucker Lake. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office.

Upper Sucker Lake is 113-acre lake is located approximately nine miles east of Cass Lake, Minnesota. The lake has 4.2 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 25 feet. There is a US Forest Service owned earthen boat access on the channel between Middle Sucker and Upper Sucker lakes. The access is suitable for small boats, canoes, and kayaks due to the shallow water and limited maneuvering area at the launch. Parking space is also limited. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has classified Minnesota lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Upper Sucker Lake is in Lake Class 28; lakes in the class are small, clear and regularly (bowl shape) shaped lakes. Other Walker Area Lake Class 28 lakes include Kerr (DOW# 11-0268), Cedar (DOW# 11-0289), Johnson (DOW# 11-0363), and Rat (DOW# 11-0285). The entire shoreline of Upper Sucker Lake is undeveloped and publicly owned by the US Forest Service and the State of Minnesota. Boating, fishing, and wildlife viewing on this lake are similar to a wilderness experience. Historically, partial winterkills occasionally occur on Upper Sucker Lake, but game fish populations recover to healthy levels during extended periods during which winterkills do not occur. No aquatic invasive species have been documented in Upper Sucker Lake. Angling for Northern Pike, Bluegill, and Black Crappie can be quite productive on Upper Sucker Lake. Northern Pike were abundant and averaged 19 inches in length with fish over 32 inches long in the sample. Bluegills numbers were low compared to other Lake Class 28 lakes, but 49 percent of the Bluegills in the sample were 8 inches or longer. Black Crappie averaged 9 inches in length and fish over 12 inches in length were present. Only two Largemouth Bass were sampled and both fish were 18 inches long. Other fish species available for anglers to catch are Black Bullhead, Bowfin (Dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Yellow Bullhead, and Yellow Perch. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Currently no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Upper Sucker Lake. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office.

Upper Sucker Lake is 120-acre lake is located approximately nine miles east of Cass Lake, Minnesota. The lake has 3.8 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 25 feet. There is a US Forest Service owned earthen boat access on the channel between Middle Sucker and Upper Sucker lakes. The access is suitable for small boats, canoes, and kayaks due to the shallow water and limited maneuvering area at the launch. Parking space is also limited. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has classified Minnesota lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Upper Sucker Lake is in Lake Class 28; lakes in the class are small, clear and regularly (bowl shape) shaped lakes. Other Walker Area Lake Class 28 lakes include Kerr (DOW# 11-0268), Cedar (DOW# 11-0289), Johnson (DOW# 11-0363), and Rat (DOW# 11-0285). The entire shoreline of Upper Sucker Lake is undeveloped and publicly owned by the US Forest Service and the State of Minnesota. Boating, fishing, and wildlife viewing on this lake are similar to a wilderness experience. Historically, partial winterkills occasionally occur on Upper Sucker Lake, but game fish populations recover to healthy levels during extended periods during which winterkills do not occur. No aquatic invasive species have been documented in Upper Sucker Lake. Angling for northern pike, bluegill, and black crappie can be quite productive on Upper Sucker Lake. Northern pike were abundant and averaged 21 inches in length with fish over 36 inches long in the sample. Bluegills numbers were low compared to other Lake Class 28 lakes, but 18 percent of the bluegills in the sample were 8 inches or longer. Black crappies averaged 8 inches in length and fish over 12 inches in length were present. Other fish species that available for anglers to catch are black bullhead, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Selective harvest by anglers (harvest of smaller to medium-sized fish) promotes balanced fish communities and sustainable fishing quality. Removal of shoreline vegetation on private lake lots and mowing grass to the water's edge can reduce water quality, which in turn can adversely affect fish populations. Similarly, removal of woody debris and aquatic plants from near-shore areas reduces critical habitat needed to support quality fish populations. Finally, aquatic invasive species (AIS) can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. These species are primarily moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake-shore owners. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users should inspect and remove any aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat away before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us/).

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Hybrid Sunfish, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Walleye, and Largemouth Bass in Upper Sucker. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Upper Sucker. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Upper Sucker has a maximum depth of 25 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Upper Sucker is from 2021.

No invasive species are on record for Upper Sucker in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.