Minnesota · Kandiyohi County
Big Kandiyohi Lake Fishing guide
Big Kandiyohi Lake sits in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, and covers 2,730 acres, reaching 18 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 3.5 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 23 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Elite fishery18per gill net20"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 70 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 64 fish
2024Lengths measured · 108 fish
2022Lengths measured · 68 fish
2021Lengths measured · 2 fish
2021Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Smallmouth bassGood numbers24.7per hr (electrofishing)17"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 12 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 12 fish
2021Lengths measured · 17 fish
2016Lengths measured · 53 fish
2011Lengths measured · 3 fish
2006Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Northern pikeLast stocked 2024Just a few2.7per gill net26"Typical32"Biggest
Lengths measured · 15 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 15 fish
2021Lengths measured · 15 fish
2016Lengths measured · 18 fish
2011Lengths measured · 10 fish
2006BluegillJust a few0.9per trap net5"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 25 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 1 fish
2022Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 24 fish
2021Lengths measured · 3 fish
2016Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 37 fish
2011CrappieJust a few1.6per trap net6"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 54 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 4 fish
2022Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 50 fish
2021Lengths measured · 94 fish
2016Lengths measured · 8 fish
2011Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Yellow perchLast stocked 2018One of the best around40.7per gill net6"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 466 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 466 fish
2021Lengths measured · 1090 fish
2018Lengths measured · 92 fish
2016Lengths measured · 57 fish
2011Rates 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 Big Kandiyohi Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 3.5 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.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows. A 18-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Smallmouth bass
- Spring
- Smallmouth are on shallow rock, gravel and sand where they spawn. In 3.5 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Smallmouth are post-spawn on rock points, gravel bars and the adjacent breaks.
- Summer
- Smallmouth are on rock humps, points and hard-bottom breaks.
- Fall
- Smallmouth are bunched tight on deep rock, so find one and you have found the school. A 18-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 | Smallmouth bass | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12" | — | — |
| 2022 | 12" | — | — |
| 2021 | 25" | 17" | — |
| 2019 | 12" | — | — |
| 2017 | 10" | — | — |
| 2016 | 22" | 17" | — |
| 2015 | 10" | — | — |
| 2011 | 28" | 16" | — |
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 · Trolling
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Ned Rig
2.75" finesse stickbait or craw-style Ned bait
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
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 | Walleye | 666,800 fry |
| 2024 | Northern Pike | 1,833 fingerlings · 209 adults |
| 2024 | Walleye | 399,896 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 499,942 fry |
| 2022 | Northern Pike | 2,030 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 846,507 fry |
| 2021 | Northern Pike | 595 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 1,088,357 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 1,001,072 fry |
| 2018 | Northern Pike | 23,357 fry · 217 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Yellow Perch | 6,000 yearlings |
| 2017 | Northern Pike | 5,500 fingerlings |
Stocking records before 2017 omitted.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
A targeted fall night electrofishing survey of young of year "YOY" (fingerling sized) Walleye was conducted on Big Kandiyohi Lake during September 11, 2024. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e., spawning season, fall season, etc.) unlike a standard survey which samples a wider range of fish species during the summer months using standard methodology (i.e., standard time of year, set sampling stations, taking water clarity readings and oxygen/temperature profiles, etc.) and gears (i.e., lake survey gillnets, trapnets and possibly spring electrofishing for Largemouth Bass).
Big Kandiyohi is a large (2,683 acres), shallow (18 feet maximum depth), and productive lake located in Kandiyohi County. Winterkill is not an issue for Big Kandiyohi due to its greater depth unlike other nearby shallow (10 feet or less) lakes like Elizabeth and Lake Lillian. Water clarity varies seasonally with generally good clarity during mid-May through June (secchi=3-10 feet), poor by late July through mid-August ( 3 feet). Water levels were generally low in 2020-2023, but normal in 2024. Intense blue-green algae blooms are often present during the summers. Submergent vegetation densities are usually relatively low consisting mostly of sago pondweed, coontail, curly-leaf pondweed and water moss. Curly-leaf pondweed has been a nuisance in recent years. Filamentous algae densities were at nuisance levels for 2021. Shoalwater substrates are varied, but consist mostly of sand, gravel, boulder, silt, and rubble.
Read the full DNR narrative
Walleye natural reproduction in Big Kandiyohi is frequent, but generally insignificant based on previous surveys. The Walleye population is due primarily to fry stocking. Big Kandiyohi was stocked with approximately 2-3 million Walleye fry per year in the springs of 2011, 2013, and 2015. Approximately 1.5 million Spicer Strain fry were stocked on April 28, 2017. There were about 1.0 million Spicer Strain Walleye fry stocked in 2019 and 2021. Approximately 846,000 Walleye fry were stocked in 2022. About 500,000 Walleye fry were stocked in 2023. There were about 400,000 Walleye fry stocked in 2024.
YOY Walleye abundance was high in 2024 (114.00 YOY/hour, 5.84 inches). Abundant YOY Walleye numbers (539.99 YOY/hour, 5.31 inches) were caught in the 2022 fall night electrofishing survey. Low YOY Walleye numbers were captured in 2019 fall electrofishing survey (19.50 YOY/hour, 6.77 inches). However, abundant YOY Walleye numbers were captured in Big Kandiyohi during the 2017 fall electrofishing survey (80.69 YOY/hour, 6.02 inches). Moderate YOY Walleye numbers were captured in 2015 (46.00 YOY/hour, 4.78 inches). The historical average catch rate is 110.62 YOY/hour for Big Kandiyohi. Moderate Yearling Walleye numbers were present in 2024 (14.00 fish/hour, 11.07 inches). Yearling Walleye numbers (72 fish/hour, 10.04 inches) were abundant in 2022. No yearling Walleye were captured in the 2019 fall electrofishing survey.
Adult Walleye abundance (18.00 fish/gillnet) was above historical average (12.48 fish/gillnet) in the most recent 2021 summer gillnet survey. The 2021 Walleye average weight and length were 2.98 pounds and 20.17 inches from gillnets. Walleye growth rates were excellent. The 2017 (fry stocked year) and 2016 (natural) Walleye year classes comprised 39% and 19% respectively of the 2021 gillnet and trapnet catch in Big Kandiyohi. Walleye angling success (open water and ice) has been excellent the last several years on Big Kandiyohi.
The Big Kandiyohi Lake fishery will be surveyed in the 2026 summer for all fish species. Fall night electrofishing surveys will be conducted during some Walleye fry stocked years (next scheduled electrofishing survey in 2026) to assess the success or failure of the stockings. Walleye fry stocking is currently scheduled yearly for Big Kandiyohi.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Big Kandiyohi Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Big Kandiyohi 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
- Big Kandiyohi Lake (E) (trailer launch)
- Big Kandiyohi Lake (W) (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Big Kandiyohi Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Lillian Lake · 1,151 ac · 4.2 mi
- Wakanda Lake · 1,760 ac · 5 mi
- Minnetaga Lake · 791 ac · 7.3 mi
- Elizabeth (Main Lake) · 1,024 ac · 8.6 mi
- Ella Lake · 153 ac · 9.1 mi
- Carrie Lake · 89 ac · 10.2 mi
- Willmar Lake · 636 ac · 10.7 mi
- Foot Lake · 503 ac · 11 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Big Kandiyohi Lake?
Big Kandiyohi Lake reaches 18 ft at its deepest point; about 53% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Big Kandiyohi Lake?
Big Kandiyohi Lake covers 2,730 acres with about 14.3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Big Kandiyohi Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Big Kandiyohi Lake average 3.5 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Big Kandiyohi Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish.
Is Big Kandiyohi Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Big Kandiyohi Lake have a public access?
Yes. Big Kandiyohi Lake has 2 public access sites, including Big Kandiyohi Lake (E) (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Big Kandiyohi 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 2011.
When was Big Kandiyohi Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Big Kandiyohi Lake in 2024, the most recent of 23 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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