Minnesota · Lincoln County
Benton Lake Fishing guide
Benton Lake is a 2,700-acre lake in Lincoln County, Minnesota, reaching 9 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 1.5 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 26 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024One of the best around12.8per gill net12"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 273 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 53 fish
2025Lengths measured · 53 fish
2025Lengths measured · 170 fish
2023Lengths measured · 192 fish
2023No recent survey rating.
Northern pikeJust a few1.9per gill net21"Typical36"Biggest
Lengths measured · 86 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 18 fish
2025Lengths measured · 21 fish
2023Lengths measured · 47 fish
2021Lengths measured · 20 fish
2019BluegillLast stocked 2025Just a few0.8per trap net5"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 35 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 3 fish
2025Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 30 fish
2023Lengths measured · 2 fish
2021Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 23 fish
2019CrappieLast stocked 2025Just a few7per trap net8"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 456 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 229 fish
2025Lengths measured · 130 fish
2023Lengths measured · 97 fish
2021Lengths measured · 299 fish
2019Yellow perchLast stocked 2025Excellent numbers14.8per gill net8"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 274 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 76 fish
2025Lengths measured · 166 fish
2023Lengths measured · 32 fish
2021Lengths measured · 485 fish
2019No 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 Benton Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 1.5 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 100% 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. A 9-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. In 1.5 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Pike are on the outside weed edge and points.
- Summer
- Pike are on the deep weed edge and points near the coolest water they can find. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops. A 9-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
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 | Northern pike | Yellow perch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28" | 33" | 11" |
| 2023 | 26" | 36" | 11" |
| 2021 | 25" | 34" | 12" |
| 2019 | 26" | 37" | 12" |
| 2018 | 11" | — | — |
| 2017 | 26" | 32" | 12" |
| 2015 | 24" | 33" | 12" |
| 2013 | 22" | 30" | 11" |
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
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
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Tungsten Jig + Micro Plastic
1–1.5" micro plastic
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 | Black Crappie | 1,600 adults |
| 2025 | Bluegill Sunfish | 4,000 adults |
| 2025 | Yellow Perch | 1,600 adults |
| 2024 | Walleye | 1,428,500 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 1,428,500 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 1,428,500 fry |
| 2020 | Black Crappie | 200 adults |
| 2020 | Bluegill Sunfish | 400 adults |
| 2018 | Walleye | 1,470,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 2,531,345 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Lake Benton is a 2,857-acre lake located in Lincoln County nine miles east of the Minnesota-South Dakota border and adjacent to the city of Lake Benton. Lake Benton has a maximum depth of 9 feet, a 12-year average Secchi depth of 1.6 feet (range = 0.5-2.5), and at times supports aquatic vegetation. Historically turbid water conditions often create a situation where both submergent and emergent aquatic vegetation is sparse. The native submergent composition, although scarce, is sago and coontail and invasive curly-leaf pondweed on the east end of the lake. Curly-leaf pondweed was at one time very prolific and covered nearly 100% of the surface water. Herbicidal treatment (Fluridone) from 2005 to 2009 severely reduced its presence until 2018 when it re-emerged. Low dose Fluridone was utilized again in 2019 on the east end and has helped to keep the curly-leaf at a lower density. Lake Benton is primarily managed for Walleye and secondarily for Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch. A Standard Survey was conducted the week of August 6th, 2025 with 6 gill nets and 15 trap nets to assess the fish community.
Walleye are the primary management species in Lake Benton. Lake Benton, at times, can be a destination for southwest Minnesota anglers pursuing Walleye. Since 2010, the gill net catch rates during summer surveys has been above the current long-range average of 22.6 Walleye per gill net, except for 2021. The 2025 Walleye catch rate was the lowest recorded since 2005 at 6.5 per gill net. Nonetheless, the average catch rate in Lake Benton is greater than the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes in Minnesota (15.33 per gill net). Eleven year classes (ages 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, and 15+) of Walleye were present in the 2025 sample with age-3 being the most abundant representing 39% of all aged fish. Walleye ranged in length from 8.2 to 28.0 inches with a mean length of 17.1 inches in both sampling gears. Fifty four percent of Walleye in the gill net were over 16.0 inches. Growth of Walleye was slow for similar lakes in the area as mean length at age-1 was 8.2 inches, age-2 was 10.9 inches, and age-3 was 14.2 inches. Growth of Walleye and overall relative abundance appears adequate to sustain Walleye in Lake Benton.
Read the full DNR narrative
Northern Pike relative abundance in gill net samples has been above the long-term average of 1.0 per net over the past 3 surveys (since 2019). During 2025, the gill net catch rate was 1.5 per net which is within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (1.2 to 7.8 per gill net). Northern Pike lengths ranged from 14.5 to 33.1 inches and averaged 25.2 inches. Fifty percent of the Northern Pike sampled in both gears were over the 24-inch minimum size limit in the Southern Zone of Minnesota's Pike Management regulations. Northern Pike natural reproduction maintains the existing population either within the lake or from connected streams and wetlands upstream (particularly Norwegian Creek). Any improvements in Northern Pike abundance into the future may focus on spawning habitat identification and potential improvement.
Yellow Perch are also a popular species targeted by anglers in Lake Benton. Yellow Perch abundance in Lake Benton has been highly variable ranging from 1.8 per gill net in 2005 to 87.3 per gill net in 2017 and averaging 30.3 per gill net since 1983. The 2025 Yellow Perch catch rate was 11.2 per gill net which is within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (3.0 to 22.5 per gill net). Yellow Perch ranged in length from 6.4 to 11.6 inches and averaged 8.7 inches. Although Yellow Perch population abundance in Lake Benton can be up and down, size of Yellow Perch is typically above average for southwestern Minnesota populations.
Angling for Black Crappie is popular in Minnesota, and the local fishing club (Lake Benton Sportsman's Club) has an interest in maintaining a fishable crappie population in Lake Benton. Black Crappie were last purchased in 2025 by The Lake Benton Sportsman's Club and a private supplier stocked 1,600 fish. Since 2019, Black Crappie relative abundance has been above the long-term trap net average of 3.8 per trap net. In 2025, the catch rate was 9.9 per trap net while the gill net catch rate was 13.3 per net. Black Crappie ranged in length from 6.8 to 12.2 inches and averaged 8.1 inches. A strong year class of Black Crappie ranging from 7.0 to 9.0 inches comprises most of the present population in Lake Benton.
Lake Benton is a simple fish community with few species sampled. Other species sampled in 2025 include Black Bullhead, Bluegill, Common Carp, and White Sucker. Black Bullhead relative abundance increased from 14.8 per gill net in 2023 to 70.8 per gill net in 2025. Common Carp relative abundance is down substantially from high catch rates in 2019 (58.0 per gill net) and 2021 (69.8 per gill net) to 6.0 per gill net in 2025. Common Carp were infected with Carp Edema Virus (CEV) from August through October 2021 and is the most likely cause of the reduction in the number of Common Carp.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Benton Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Benton 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
- Lake Benton (SW) (trailer launch)
- Lake Benton, Norwegian Creek (N) (trailer launch)
- Lake Benton, Norwegian Creek (S) (trailer launch)
- Lake Benton, Stoney Point (trailer launch)
- Lake Benton, Crows Nest (carry-in)
- Lake Benton, Showboat (carry-in)
- Benton Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
- Lake Benton Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Benton Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Stay Lake · 221 ac · 7.9 mi
- Dead Coon (Main Lake) · 547 ac · 8.9 mi
- Shaokotan Lake · 996 ac · 9.8 mi
- West Twin Lake · 220 ac · 10.7 mi
- East Twin Lake · 357 ac · 11.3 mi
- Wood Lake · 373 ac · 11.7 mi
- Goose Lake · 150 ac · 11.8 mi
- Island Lake · 170 ac · 13.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Benton Lake?
Benton Lake reaches 9 ft at its deepest point; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Benton Lake?
Benton Lake covers 2,700 acres with about 18 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Benton Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Benton Lake average 1.5 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Benton Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish.
Is Benton Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked black crappie, bluegill sunfish and yellow perch in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Benton Lake have a public access?
Yes. Benton Lake has 8 public access sites, including Lake Benton (SW) (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Benton 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 2013.
When was Benton Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Benton Lake in 2025, the most recent of 26 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 Benton Lake, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open Benton Lake on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report