Minnesota · Kandiyohi County
George Lake Fishing guide
George Lake sits in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, and covers 228 acres, reaching 34 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 13.7 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 14 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers2.7per gill net14"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 38 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 18 fish
2025Lengths measured · 5 fish
2024Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 15 fish
2023Lengths measured · 18 fish
2018No recent survey rating.
Northern pikeGood numbers13per gill net15"Typical33"Biggest
Lengths measured · 78 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 13 fish
2025Lengths measured · 10 fish
2024Lengths measured · 55 fish
2023Lengths measured · 23 fish
2018BluegillJust a few24.7per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 757 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 314 fish
2025Lengths measured · 117 fish
2024Lengths measured · 326 fish
2023Lengths measured · 323 fish
2018CrappieJust a few6per trap net8"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 190 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 156 fish
2025Lengths measured · 8 fish
2024Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 26 fish
2023Lengths measured · 14 fish
2018Rates 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 George Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 13.7 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 13.7 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.
- 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 | Northern pike | Walleye | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 33" | 26" | 12" |
| 2024 | 27" | 26" | 16" |
| 2023 | 31" | 26" | 14" |
| 2018 | 34" | 24" | 13" |
| 2013 | 32" | 21" | 19" |
| 2008 | 35" | 22" | 17" |
| 2006 | 35" | 26" | 14" |
| 2004 | 30" | 26" | 18" |
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:
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
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
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 | Walleye | 18 fingerlings · 257 yearlings · 66 adults |
| 2024 | Walleye | 554 fingerlings · 219 yearlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 60 fingerlings · 243 yearlings · 70 adults |
| 2022 | Walleye | 2,775 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 270 yearlings · 36 adults |
| 2019 | Walleye | 3,445 fingerlings · 11 yearlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 18 fingerlings · 614 yearlings · 137 adults |
| 2016 | Walleye | 326 yearlings · 133 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A targeted survey was conducted on George Lake during early May of 2025 as part of the ongoing statewide Quality Sunfish Initiative. Ten standard lake survey trapnets were set at historical stations to target Bluegill and Black Crappie. Special regulations for several area lakes (Nest, Long by Hawick, Diamond, George and Florida) currently entail reduced bag limits (i.e., 5 or 10 fish) for Sunfish or Crappie. Special regulations for George entail reduced bag limits of five Sunfish and five Crappie. 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). Trapnet sampling pre-spawn Bluegill and Black Crappie during early/mid-May is preferred to summer (June-August) netting for regulation evaluations.
George is a small (231 acres), moderately deep (34 feet maximum), and low to moderately productive lake located in Kandiyohi County. The shoreline is composed of primarily residential homes (99 homes), in addition to hardwood trees, a bible camp and adjacent wetland areas. The immediate watershed is composed of residential homes, hardwood trees, wetlands, grasslands and agricultural row crops. Agricultural row crop inputs into George Lake are minimal. There are three small inlets that drain into George and an outlet that connects to Nest Lake during high water. The Nest Lake connection may flow either way depending upon water levels in both lakes. The water clarity was good on May 8, 2025 (secchi=10.0 feet). Total phosphorus was low (0.014 - 0.021 ppm) during May thru September of 2025. Water levels were slightly above normal during the early summer and normal by fall. Submergent vegetation species (muskgrass, various pondweeds, water moss, northern milfoil, bladderwort, and filamentous algae) are moderately abundant within the lake. Emergent vegetation is limited to small stands of hardstem bulrush along the northeast and southeast areas. Zebra Mussels were found in George during 2017. Shoalwater substrates consist mostly of sand, gravel, and rubble. George is a popular fishing lake for Bluegill, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike. Quality Sunfish Initiative "QSI" was recently enacted during 2021.
Read the full DNR narrative
Catchability of various species (i.e., Bluegill, Black Crappie, Walleye, etc.) is often different by season. Summer historical average catch rates should be cautiously regarded when compared to spring and fall catch rates regarding relative abundance. Black Crappie and Bluegill are generally more susceptible to capture in trapnets during May and September compared to the summer months.
Black Crappie were abundant in early-May of 2025 (15.60 fish/trapnet) and above the George 2021 mid-May trapnet survey (3.90 fish/trapnet). The historical average catch rate from previous surveys using summer trapnets is 0.99 fish/trapnet. The Black Crappie average size was moderate (0.35 pounds and 8.60 inches) in the 2025 early-May trapnets. The Black Crappie average size was large (0.59 pounds and 9.97 inches) from 2021 mid-May trapnets. The 2025 early-May catch rate of quality size (8.00 inches and larger) Black Crappie was high (12.70 fish/trapnet). The 2025 early-May catch rate of preferred size (10.00 inches and larger) Black Crappie was low (0.10 fish/trapnet). Black Crappie growth rates were poor for ages 1-7. The 2019 year class comprised 99% of the 2025 Black Crappie survey. Black Crappie adults (1,344 fish, 336 pounds) were last stocked into George during 2010. A partial summerkill of Black Crappie occurred due to a probable virus during August of 2025.
Bluegill were abundant in early-May of 2025 (31.30 fish/trapnet) and above the 2021 mid-May trapnet survey (9.50 fish/trapnet). The historical average catch rate from previous surveys using summer trapnets is 42.14 fish/trapnet for George Lake. The 2025 Bluegill average size was large (0.31 pounds and 7.27 inches) from early-May trapnets. The Bluegill average size was large (0.35 pounds and 7.47 inches) from 2021 mid-May trapnets. The 2025 early-May Bluegill catch rate of quality size (6.00 inches and larger) was high (29.70 fish/trapnet). The 2025 early-May Bluegill catch rate of preferred size (8.00 inches and larger) was low (2.70 fish/trapnet). Bluegill growth rates were poor for ages 1-5, but moderate for ages 6-8. The 2017-2019 year classes respectively comprised 28%, 26% and 29% of the 2025 Bluegill catch.
Pumpkinseed Sunfish abundance in early-May 2025 (7.40 fish/trapnet) was above the mid-May 2021 survey (0.40 fish/trapnet) and the mid-summer historical average (3.06 fish/trapnet). The 2025 Pumpkinseed Sunfish average size was large (0.28 pounds and 6.80 inches) from trapnets.
Hybrid Sunfish abundance in early-May 2025 (2.00 fish/trapnet) was above the mid-May 2021 survey (0.30 fish/trapnet), but below the mid-summer historical average (6.08 fish/trapnet). The 2025 Hybrid Sunfish average size was large (0.35 pounds and 7.18 inches) from trapnets.
Other fish species captured included low numbers of Black Bullhead (0.10 fish/trapnet), Bowfin (0.20 fish/trapnet), and Largemouth Bass (0.10 fish/trapnet); moderate numbers of Northern Pike (1.30 fish/trapnet) and Walleye (1.80 fish/trapnet); and high numbers of Yellow Bullhead (4.60 fish/trapnet). The 2025 average size was small for Northern Pike (20.74 inches), but moderate for Walleye (16.85 inches). The largest Northern Pike captured was 33.15 inches in 2025. The largest Walleye captured was 26.93 inches in 2025.
Current fish management activities on George include monitoring the fish population on a periodic basis, protecting native aquatic vegetation through the permit process, preventing and educating about the spread of invasive species, participating in local watershed initiatives, and stocking various fish species as warranted. The George Lake fishery is scheduled for sampling in the 2028 spring and summer for all fish species.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
George Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on George 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
- George Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
George Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Henderson Lake · 75 ac · 1 mi
- Nest Lake · 969 ac · 1.6 mi
- Ringo Lake · 735 ac · 1.7 mi
- Elkhorn Lake · 79 ac · 2.9 mi
- Florida Lake · 705 ac · 3.6 mi
- Point Lake · 174 ac · 3.7 mi
- Long Lake · 1,573 ac · 3.9 mi
- Green Lake · 5,569 ac · 4 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is George Lake?
George Lake reaches 34 ft at its deepest point; about 49% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is George Lake?
George Lake covers 228 acres with about 2.7 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in George Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on George Lake average 13.7 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in George Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is George Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does George Lake have a public access?
Yes. George Lake has one public access site: George Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in George Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 33"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2004.
When was George Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed George Lake in 2025, the most recent of 14 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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