2 miles southeast of Emily
Crow Wing County, Minnesota · 46.7492° N, 93.9533° W
Directions to Ruth Lake Public Water Access SiteApple Maps
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Updated 19 Oct 2026, 5:56 pm EDT.
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Minnesota DNR lake survey, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.
1 public access site on Ruth Lake.
Minnesota DNR public water accesses, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR stocking reports list 5 stockings of Ruth Lake in 5 of the years 2017 to 2025. The most recent, in 2025, included 4,000 walleye fingerlings. Species stocked: walleye.
Latest: 2025: 4,000 walleye fingerlings.
Source: Minnesota DNR Fisheries (LakeFinder stocking reports), fetched 15 Oct 2026. How we measure
Measured from Minnesota DNR contours. How we measure
Minnesota DNR’s latest standard fish survey of Ruth Lake was in June 2021: 9 gill nets and 9 trap nets caught 11 species. The DNR also ran a targeted survey in July 2022; this section uses the latest standard survey.
Walleye per gill net, standard surveys: 1998 2.5 · 2003 0.9 · 2009 1.3 · 2015 0.9 · 2021 1.0
Bluegill per trap net, standard surveys: 1998 41 · 2003 79 · 2009 65 · 2015 28 · 2021 66
Walleye: 16 measured, 9 to 29 in, half 21 in or longer; average 4.1 lb, above normal (normal 1.2–2.1 lb).
Northern pike: 169 measured, 9 to 34 in, half 20 in or longer; average 2.5 lb, normal (normal 1.6–2.8 lb).
Largemouth bass: 110 measured, 6 to 18 in, half 14 in or longer; average 1.1 lb, above normal (normal 0.2–0.8 lb).
Black crappie: 12 measured, 6 to 12 in, half 10 in or longer; average 0.55 lb, normal (normal 0.3–0.6 lb).
Bluegill: 596 measured, 2 to 9 in, half 6 in or longer; average 0.09 lb, below normal (normal 0.1–0.2 lb).
Also caught: hybrid sunfish, rock bass, white sucker, yellow bullhead.
Source: Minnesota DNR Fisheries lake survey, 7 Jun 2021, via LakeFinder, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Normal range: DNR’s range for lakes of the same class (43 classes, grouped by water chemistry and shape). Each line has its own scale. How we measure
Measured water clarity averages about 23 ft: the Secchi depth across 3 readings, 2009–2021.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and volunteer Secchi readings, via Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR lake survey; straight-line miles.
Ruth Lake is 39 feet at its deepest point, measured by Minnesota DNR survey. It covers 599 acres.
Yes. 1 public access site is listed: Ruth Lake Public Water Access Site.
Yes. Minnesota DNR stocking reports list 5 stockings of it in 5 of the years 2017 to 2025. The most recent, in 2025, included 4,000 walleye fingerlings.
Minnesota DNR’s June 2021 standard survey caught 11 species, most often bluegill, northern pike, yellow perch and largemouth bass.
About 72% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Minnesota DNR depth contours.