Minnesota · Meeker County
Belle Lake Fishing guide
Belle Lake is a 864-acre lake in Meeker County, Minnesota, reaching 25 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 5.8 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 33 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2018Excellent numbers9per gill net17"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 236 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 47 fish
2025Lengths measured · 141 fish
2024Lengths measured · 116 fish
2024Lengths measured · 514 fish
2023Northern pikeJust a few3.4per gill net21"Typical31"Biggest
Lengths measured · 94 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 65 fish
2024Lengths measured · 29 fish
2022Lengths measured · 11 fish
2020Lengths measured · 68 fish
2016BluegillJust a few1.7per trap net4"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 22 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 1 fish
2024Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 20 fish
2022Lengths measured · 1 fish
2022Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 2 fish
2020Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
CrappieJust a few0.8per trap net5"Typical14"Biggest
Lengths measured · 389 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 220 fish
2024Lengths measured · 27 fish
2022Lengths measured · 142 fish
2022Lengths measured · 27 fish
2020Yellow perchGood numbers10.7per gill net6"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 257 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 240 fish
2024Lengths measured · 17 fish
2022Lengths measured · 266 fish
2020Lengths measured · 302 fish
2016Rates 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 Belle Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14" | — | — |
| 2024 | 24" | — | 30" |
| 2023 | 13" | — | — |
| 2022 | 25" | 16" | 31" |
| 2020 | 23" | 5" | 26" |
| 2019 | 13" | — | — |
| 2018 | 15" | — | — |
| 2017 | — | 18" | — |
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 · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Walleye | 466,360 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A targeted survey (fall nighttime electrofishing) was conducted on Belle Lake on September 22nd, 2025, to evaluate young of the year (YOY) and yearling Walleye abundance. A total of 27 YOY were sampled for a catch rate of 27.0 fish/hr., which was below the lake's historical (1993 to 2025) median (52.2 fish/hr.). This indicated that a substantial YOY year class was present. In 2025, the average length for YOY was 6.9 inches, which was above Belle's historical average (6.2 inches). Walleye fry were not stocked in 2025, so those fish resulted from natural reproduction. In 2025, a total of 16 yearlings were sampled for a catch rate of 16.0 fish/hr., which was equal to Belle's historical (2017 to 2025) yearling median (16.0 fish/hr.) and indicated that a substantial year class was present. The average length for the yearlings was 11.1 inches and was below Belle's historical average (11.6 inches). Due to the significant natural reproduction of Walleye at Belle, the lake will only be stocked with Walleye fry if two consecutive fall electrofishing catch rates drop below 20 YOY/hr. Belle Lake is electrofished annually.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Belle Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Belle 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
- DNR access: Paved parking lot on the east shore.
- County access
DNR bathymetry
Belle Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Cedar Lake · 1,860 ac · 1.7 mi
- Stahl's Lake · 141 ac · 1.7 mi
- Erie Lake · 190 ac · 2.2 mi
- French Lake · 42 ac · 2.4 mi
- Clear Lake · 82 ac · 2.5 mi
- Greenleaf Lake · 238 ac · 3.3 mi
- Willie Lake · 192 ac · 3.8 mi
- Todd Lake · 214 ac · 3.9 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Belle Lake?
Belle Lake reaches 25 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 16 ft; about 44% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Belle Lake?
Belle Lake covers 864 acres with about 5.5 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Belle Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Belle Lake average 5.8 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Belle Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Belle Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2018.
Does Belle Lake have a public access?
Yes. Belle Lake has 2 public access sites, including a DNR access (Paved parking lot on the east shore.).
How big do walleye get in Belle Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 25"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2017.
When was Belle Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Belle Lake in 2025, the most recent of 33 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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