Minnesota · Hennepin County
Bryant Lake Fishing guide
Bryant Lake sits in Hennepin County, Minnesota, and covers 180 acres, reaching 45 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 6.1 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 10 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Good numbers4.5per gill net19"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 27 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 27 fish
2022Lengths measured · 17 fish
2017Lengths measured · 25 fish
2012Lengths measured · 6 fish
2006Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Northern pikeFair numbers6.2per gill net23"Typical32"Biggest
Lengths measured · 41 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 2 fish
2023Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 39 fish
2022Lengths measured · 39 fish
2017Lengths measured · 62 fish
2012BluegillGood numbers63.5per trap net5"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 1274 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 227 fish
2023Lengths measured · 1047 fish
2022Lengths measured · 342 fish
2017Lengths measured · 491 fish
2012CrappieJust a few3per trap net7"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 91 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 91 fish
2022Lengths measured · 121 fish
2017Lengths measured · 20 fish
2012Lengths measured · 122 fish
2006Yellow perchFair numbers2.7per gill net6"Typical6"Biggest
Lengths measured · 17 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 17 fish
2022Lengths measured · 3 fish
2017Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 8 fish
2012Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 134 fish
2006Present and managed by the DNR.
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 Bryant 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. On a lake that drops to 45 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth.
- 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. On a lake that drops to 45 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
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 | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | 23" | 17" |
| 2022 | 26" | 32" | 17" |
| 2017 | 21" | 34" | 19" |
| 2012 | 24" | 35" | 18" |
| 2006 | 12" | 34" | 21" |
| 1999 | — | 32" | 18" |
| 1994 | — | 34" | 7" |
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 · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
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
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
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 | Tiger Muskellunge | 128 fingerlings |
| 2025 | Walleye | 1,260 yearlings |
| 2023 | Tiger Muskellunge | 96 fingerlings · 96 yearlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 1,950 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 780 fingerlings · 390 yearlings |
| 2017 | Tiger Muskellunge | 128 yearlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 1,462 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2023 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Bryant Lake was conducted on August 21-22, 2023, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at ten sampling stations, but two stations were sampled from the boat due soft sediments and steep drop offs. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample six stations, a 15-foot seine was used at two stations. Nearshore sampling captured six species of fish including one that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Green Sunfish) and no species classified as intolerant of disturbance.
A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by IBI Program staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured five species of fish. Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number and biomass.
Read the full DNR narrative
The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from a July 2022 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Least Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead and Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
Results from this survey indicate that the fish community in Bryant Lake is adversely impacted by watershed and/or shoreline stressors as indicated by an FIBI score that is below the impairment threshold determined for similar lakes. These results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Lower Minnesota River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Bryant Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Bryant 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
- Bryant Lake, Regional Park (trailer launch)
- Bryant Lake Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Bryant Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Shady Oak Lake · 91 ac · 2.3 mi
- Staring Lake · 167 ac · 3.1 mi
- Red Rock Lake · 97 ac · 3.1 mi
- Round Lake · 31 ac · 3.2 mi
- Mitchell Lake · 114 ac · 3.6 mi
- Bush Lake · 171 ac · 3.6 mi
- Cornelia Lake · 53 ac · 4.5 mi
- Lotus Lake · 245 ac · 4.9 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Bryant Lake?
Bryant Lake reaches 45 ft at its deepest point; about 36% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Bryant Lake?
Bryant Lake covers 180 acres with about 3.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Bryant Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Bryant Lake average 6.1 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Bryant Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, tiger muskellunge.
Is Bryant Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked tiger muskellunge and walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Bryant Lake have a public access?
Yes. Bryant Lake has 2 public access sites, including Bryant Lake, Regional Park (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Bryant Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 26"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Bryant Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Bryant Lake in 2023, the most recent of 10 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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