Minnesota · Kandiyohi County
Ella Lake Fishing guide
Ella Lake covers 153 acres in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, reaching 12 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 2.8 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 13 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Excellent numbers10.3per gill net14"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 46 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 2 fish
2023Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 46 fish
2021Lengths measured · 35 fish
2019Lengths measured · 6 fish
2018Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Largemouth bassPresent0.3per gill net15"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 10 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 10 fish
2021Lengths measured · 1 fish
2016Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 69 fish
2011Lengths measured · 79 fish
2006BluegillJust a few22.3per trap net4"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 136 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 136 fish
2021Lengths measured · 13 fish
2016Lengths measured · 94 fish
2011Lengths measured · 984 fish
2006CrappieGood numbers27.7per trap net9"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 182 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 182 fish
2021Lengths measured · 246 fish
2016Lengths measured · 174 fish
2011Lengths measured · 83 fish
2006Rates 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 Ella Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 2.8 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 12-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. In 2.8 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze. A 12-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 | Largemouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4" | — | — |
| 2021 | 27" | 17" | 30" |
| 2019 | 11" | — | — |
| 2018 | 6" | — | — |
| 2016 | 19" | 4" | 30" |
| 2015 | 6" | — | — |
| 2011 | 22" | 3" | 35" |
| 2006 | 21" | 18" | 33" |
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 · Jigs & bladed
Skirted Casting Jig + Craw Trailer
3.5–4" craw-style trailer on a skirted casting/flipping jig
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
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 | 75,680 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 74,490 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 76,262 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 105,525 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 101,232 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 115,064 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 103,822 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2023 survey
A targeted fall daytime electrofishing survey was conducted on Ella during September 7, 2023 to evaluate young of year "YOY" (fingerling sized) Walleye numbers due to a fry stocking. Two stations were sampled for a total of 20 minutes. The water temperature was 73 F. Water clarity was poor (6"). Light densities of sago pondweed were present during the 2023 electrofishing survey. 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).
Lake Ella experienced a significant winterkill of Walleye and Common Carp during the 2022-23 winter. Lake Elizabeth also had a significant winterkill of Walleye and Common Carp near the Lake Ella outlet area. The Ella standard lake survey trapnet catch (3 single frame sets during early June of 2023) consisted of numerous adult Northern Pike, White Crappie and Black Bullhead in addition to low numbers of Bluegill, White Sucker and Yellow Bullhead. Poor conditions such as high snowfall, long winter duration, low water and high aquatic vegetation contributed to the winterkill severity in many local lakes for 2022-23 winter. A partial winterkill of mostly Common Carp and Walleye occurred near the outlet area during February of 2019.
Read the full DNR narrative
Ella is a small (153 acres), shallow (12 feet maximum depth), and productive lake located in Kandiyohi County. Walleye natural reproduction in Ella is generally insignificant or rare based on previous surveys. Walleye movement out of or into Ella via Lake Elizabeth can also occur during high water events. Walleye fry were generally stocked in Ella every other odd year from 1983-2007. Ella was stocked with 33,403 and 35,051 Walleye frylings (1-2 inch average length) in late/mid-June of 2008 and 2010 respectively. YOY Walleye catch rates were low to moderate in 2008 (25.26 YOY/hour, 7.01 inches length) and 2010 (42.00 YOY/hour, 6.55 inches) fall electrofishing surveys, but better than fall electrofishing surveys of 2003-2007 fry stocked years (3-20 YOY/hour). Walleye fry were stocked into Ella due to no/minimal fryling availability during 2015 (152,385 fry), 2017 (103,822 fry), 2018 (115,064 fry), 2019 (101,232 fry), 2021 (105,525 fry) and 2023 (76,262 fry). The fryling program has been discontinued.
Low numbers of YOY Walleye (6.00 YOY/hour, 5.66 inches) were caught in the 2023 fall daytime electrofishing survey. YOY Walleye are probably more numerous than documented in 2023 due to daytime electrofishing being less effective than nighttime electrofishing for catching YOY Walleye. Abundant YOY Walleye numbers (102.00 YOY/hour, 5.57 inches) were captured in the 2019 fall night electrofishing survey. No Yearling Walleye were captured in 2019. We observed moderate numbers of Bluegill in the 2019 fall electrofishing survey. Low YOY Walleye numbers (18.00 YOY/hour, 6.17 inches) and no yearling Walleye were captured in the 2018 fall night electrofishing survey. No YOY or yearling Walleye were captured in the 2017 fall night electrofishing survey. Moderate numbers of YOY Walleye (42.00 YOY/hour, 6.12 inches) were captured in the 2015 fall night electrofishing survey. Nearby Lake Elizabeth had a slightly lower catch rate (30.00 YOY/hour, 5.52 inches), but no Walleye fry were stocked in Elizabeth during 2015. Low YOY Walleye numbers (6.00 YOY/hour, 7.68 inches average length) due to natural reproduction or movement from Elizabeth were sampled in the 2013 night fall electrofishing survey. Walleye fingerlings (239 pounds, 5,975 fish) were stocked into Ella during the 2013 fall after the fall night electrofishing survey.
Adult Walleye numbers (10.33 fish/gillnet, 1.42 pounds and 15.60 inches) were abundant in the most recent 2021 standard summer gillnet and trapnet survey. Approximately 50% of the 2021 summer catch was from the 2019 year class. However, Walleye numbers are currently reduced as of 2023 due to the recent winterkill.
The Ella fishery will be surveyed in the 2026 summer for all fish species. Walleye fry will be stocked annually. Fall night electrofishing surveys will be conducted periodically during Walleye fry stocked years to assess the success or failure of these stockings.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Ella Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Ella 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
- Ella Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Ella Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Elizabeth (Main Lake) · 1,024 ac · 1.3 mi
- Carrie Lake · 89 ac · 1.3 mi
- Minnetaga Lake · 791 ac · 2.6 mi
- Diamond Lake · 1,610 ac · 7 mi
- Long Lake · 783 ac · 7.2 mi
- Hope Lake · 274 ac · 7.8 mi
- Wakanda Lake · 1,760 ac · 8.3 mi
- Lillian Lake · 1,151 ac · 8.7 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Ella Lake?
Ella Lake reaches 12 ft at its deepest point; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Ella Lake?
Ella Lake covers 153 acres with about 2.3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Ella Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Ella Lake average 2.8 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Ella Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish.
Is Ella Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Ella Lake have a public access?
Yes. Ella Lake has one public access site: Ella Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Ella Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 27"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2006.
When was Ella Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Ella Lake in 2023, the most recent of 13 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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