Minnesota · Wright County
East Lake Sylvia Fishing guide
East Lake Sylvia sits in Wright County, Minnesota, and covers 669 acres, reaching 78 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 20.3 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 14 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Fair numbers2.4per gill net20"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 35 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2025Lengths measured · 21 fish
2025Lengths measured · 14 fish
2021Lengths measured · 28 fish
2020Lengths measured · 17 fish
2017Largemouth bassGood numbers55.9per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 242 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 242 fish
2025Lengths measured · 43 fish
2020Lengths measured · 347 fish
2015Lengths measured · 59 fish
2008Northern pikeFair numbers8.1per gill net18"Typical30"Biggest
Lengths measured · 69 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 69 fish
2025Lengths measured · 82 fish
2020Lengths measured · 452 fish
2017Lengths measured · 59 fish
2015BluegillJust a few11.3per trap net7"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 1116 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2025Lengths measured · 390 fish
2025Lengths measured · 202 fish
2025Lengths measured · 524 fish
2021Lengths measured · 112 fish
2020CrappiePresent1.1per gill net10"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 126 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2025Lengths measured · 5 fish
2025Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 9 fish
2025Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 112 fish
2021Lengths measured · 6 fish
2020Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Rock bassExcellent numbers4per gill net6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 46 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 46 fish
2025Lengths measured · 18 fish
2020Lengths measured · 13 fish
2015Lengths measured · 13 fish
2008Rates 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 East Lake Sylvia through the year
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. At 20.3 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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. On a lake that drops to 78 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 20.3 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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 78 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.
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 | Largemouth bass | Walleye | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18" | 23" | 30" |
| 2021 | — | 27" | — |
| 2020 | 15" | 27" | 30" |
| 2017 | — | 25" | 35" |
| 2015 | 17" | 21" | 30" |
| 2008 | 19" | 22" | 29" |
| 2002 | 17" | 25" | 29" |
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:
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
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 · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | 84,292 fry · 2,628 fingerlings · 329 yearlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 4,728 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 7,820 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 2,276 fingerlings · 78 yearlings · 315 adults |
| 2016 | Walleye | 242 fingerlings · 181 yearlings · 4 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Reduced bag limits for sunfish (10 fish daily) and crappie (5 fish daily) were introduced for East Sylvia Lake beginning March 1, 2021. A targeted panfish (sunfish and crappie) assessment was conducted on East Lake Sylvia from May 27-30, 2025, to collect post regulation data.
A total of 390 Bluegill were caught; lengths ranged from 3 to 10 inches with an average length of 7 inches. Eighty-three percent of the Bluegill sampled with 6 inches or longer with 25% being 8 inches or longer. Bluegill grew to 6 inches in 6 years, which is slower than the statewide average growth rate, but is similar to the Sauk Rapids Area average growth.
Read the full DNR narrative
Only five Black Crappie were caught on East Sylvia, compared to 112 caught in the pre regulation survey from 2021. Lengths ranged from 10 to 14 inches with an average length of 12 inches. The lower catch rate may have been due to the later date of the survey in 2025 compared to 2021 (April 26-30).
A total of 365 Pumpkinseed Sunfish were caught, which is over 4 times as many as were caught in 2021 (81). Lengths ranged from 5 to 9 inches with an average length of 7 inches. The Hybrid Sunfish catch for 2025 (264) was similar to the last survey in 2021 (237) with lengths ranging from 5 to 10 inches and an average length of 8 inches.
Bluegill grow slowly in the Sauk Rapids Area, taking over 8 years to reach 8 inches. We encourage anglers to limit their harvest of larger Bluegill (> 8 inches) and keep smaller fish for a meal to help prevent stunted populations of small fish and keep larger Bluegill available.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
East Lake Sylvia fishing reports
Recent reports on East Lake Sylvia 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
- DNR access
DNR bathymetry
East Lake Sylvia depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- West Lake Sylvia · 904 ac · 0.8 mi
- John Lake · 398 ac · 1.6 mi
- Moose Lake · 87 ac · 2.5 mi
- Union Lake · 93 ac · 3.1 mi
- French Lake · 346 ac · 3.5 mi
- Francis Lake · 1,053 ac · 3.6 mi
- Augusta Lake · 187 ac · 3.7 mi
- Pleasant Lake · 597 ac · 3.7 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is East Lake Sylvia?
East Lake Sylvia reaches 78 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 41.1 ft; about 25% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is East Lake Sylvia?
East Lake Sylvia covers 669 acres with about 6 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in East Lake Sylvia?
DNR Secchi readings on East Lake Sylvia average 20.3 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in East Lake Sylvia?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is East Lake Sylvia stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does East Lake Sylvia have a public access?
Yes. East Lake Sylvia has 2 public access sites, including a DNR access.
How big do largemouth bass get in East Lake Sylvia?
The biggest largemouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 18"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2002.
When was East Lake Sylvia last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed East Lake Sylvia in 2025, the most recent of 14 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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