Minnesota · Grant County
Barrett Lake Fishing guide
Barrett Lake is a 530-acre lake in Grant County, Minnesota, reaching 28 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 3.2 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 12 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025One of the best around24.5per gill net11"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 152 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 152 fish
2023Lengths measured · 63 fish
2017Lengths measured · 161 fish
2011Lengths measured · 85 fish
2007Largemouth bassFair numbers20.5per hr (electrofishing)14"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 18 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 18 fish
2023Lengths measured · 62 fish
2017Lengths measured · 3 fish
2011Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 8 fish
2007Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Northern pikeJust a few3.8per gill net22"Typical31"Biggest
Lengths measured · 25 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 25 fish
2023Lengths measured · 83 fish
2017Lengths measured · 32 fish
2011Lengths measured · 45 fish
2007BluegillLast stocked 2025Just a few3.9per trap net7"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 33 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 33 fish
2023Lengths measured · 133 fish
2017Lengths measured · 13 fish
2011Lengths measured · 47 fish
2007CrappieJust a few4.9per trap net9"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 63 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 63 fish
2023Lengths measured · 106 fish
2017Lengths measured · 62 fish
2011Lengths measured · 39 fish
2007Yellow perchFair numbers2per gill net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 12 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 12 fish
2023Lengths measured · 146 fish
2017Lengths measured · 241 fish
2011Lengths measured · 127 fish
2007No recent survey rating.
Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Barrett Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 3.2 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure. With 80% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. In 3.2 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. With 80% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Walleye | Largemouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 28" | 18" | 31" |
| 2017 | 28" | 18" | 33" |
| 2011 | 28" | 17" | 34" |
| 2007 | 29" | 15" | 35" |
| 2005 | 28" | 17" | 33" |
| 2000 | 24" | 16" | 29" |
| 1995 | 29" | 17" | 27" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Jigs & bladed
Tail Spinner
Compact lead body with a free-spinning blade on the tail
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Spinnerbait
3/8–1/2 oz safety-pin spinnerbait with tandem willow-leaf blades
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Bluegill Sunfish | 3,600 adults |
| 2025 | Walleye | 422,000 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 5,100 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 422,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 422,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 422,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 422,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2023 survey
Barrett Lake is a 530-acre impoundment of the Pomme de Terre River. The earliest available records of dam construction date back to 1936. The City of Barrett developed along the west and south shorelines. Maximum depth of the lake is 28.0 feet. Average depth is estimated at 8.5 feet. Water quality measurements describe Barrett Lake as eutrophic. The Pomme de Terre River carries sediments and nutrients from an expansive, well drained, and largely cultivated watershed area extending well north into Otter Tail County. Algae blooms and suspended sediments impair water clarity during summer months. Water transparency at the time of the late-July fish survey measured 3.0 feet. Poor water clarity limits diversity and distribution of submergent plants. Primary management efforts on Barrett Lake are directed towards Walleye. Natural reproduction sustains this fishery but Walleye fry are stocked every other year to supplement the population.
A fisheries survey was completed on Barrett Lake, July 31 through August 3, 2023. A combination of six gill nets and eight trap nets were used to sample the fish community. Netting was preceded by electrofishing on May 31 to gain estimates of Largemouth Bass abundance and population size structure. Walleye catch rates (24.5 fish/gill net) were high during the 2023 survey. Lengths of those Walleye ranged from 9.8-28.3 inches but averaged only 13.8 inches. Most of the Walleye in the system at the time of the survey were younger fish. Survival of young Walleye has been above average recently and multiple year classes were present from stocked and non-stocked years. Walleye fry are stocked in odd-numbered years to supplement natural reproduction, but in the last several surveys, it appears naturally produced fish may make up a majority of this population. Walleye grow fast in Barrett Lake, reaching 15 inches around age 3, so the small fish will quickly grow to harvestable sizes. Walleye fishing is expected to be very good for at least the next several years. Northern Pike abundance was moderate for Barrett Lake. Average size was 22.2 inches and the largest pike observed was 31.3 inches. Barrett Lake also supports both Black and White Crappie. Black Crappie are more common than White Crappie. Many of the Black Crappie caught in this survey were large, average length was 10.1 inches and the largest crappie was 13.4 inches. Bluegill catch rates were low, but some large fish over 9 inches were sampled. Spring electrofishing efforts caught only a few Largemouth Bass. Low water made electrofishing difficult and habitat conditions are less than ideal for bass. Only 10 Largemouth Bass were observed. Yellow Perch abundance was also low for Barrett Lake. Perch occasionally get large enough to keep, but the few observed in this survey averaged 6.7 inches.
Read the full DNR narrative
Abundance of most underutilized species declined from the previous survey. Abundance of Black Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, Common Carp, and White Sucker was lower than previous surveys. Freshwater Drum is one species that has been increasing. First recorded in the 2017 survey, they are now increasing in abundance. Freshwater Drum are native to the Pomme de Terre River system, but have only recently been recorded in lakes above Crissy Dam in Morris, MN. They are thought to have expanded above Crissy Dam in 2012 during flood conditions.
Barrett Lake was designated as an infested water after the discovery of zebra mussels in 2018. Recreational users should take necessary precautions to prevent the further spread of invasive species. Drain all water and remove all aquatic vegetation from your boat and trailer when leaving any body of water.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Barrett Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Barrett Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Barrett Lake (trailer launch)
- Barrett Lake Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Barrett Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Thompson Lake · 154 ac · 3.6 mi
- Elk Lake · 207 ac · 5.3 mi
- Pomme de Terre Lake · 1,816 ac · 6.5 mi
- Lower Elk Lake · 131 ac · 6.5 mi
- Red Rock Lake · 904 ac · 9.5 mi
- Long Lake · 202 ac · 9.8 mi
- Pelican Lake · 3,761 ac · 10.3 mi
- Cottonwood Lake · 255 ac · 12.9 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Barrett Lake?
Barrett Lake reaches 28 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 8.5 ft; about 80% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Barrett Lake?
Barrett Lake covers 530 acres with about 6.1 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Barrett Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Barrett Lake average 3.2 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Barrett Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Barrett Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked bluegill sunfish and walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Barrett Lake have a public access?
Yes. Barrett Lake has 2 public access sites, including Barrett Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Barrett Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 28"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1995.
When was Barrett Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Barrett Lake in 2023, the most recent of 12 surveys on record.
Page updated .
Featured guide spot
Your guide service here
One featured guide per lake, with your photo, your writeup and a link straight to your booking page. Free through December 31, 2026.
Then $20 a month from January. Cancel any time.
The live map adds today's conditions and ranked spots for Barrett Lake, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open Barrett Lake on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report