Minnesota · Lyon County
Island Lake Fishing guide
Island Lake is a 170-acre lake in Lyon County, Minnesota, reaching 8 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 1.1 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 9 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, northern pike and yellow perch in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Northern pikeLast stocked 2022Just a few3per gill net28"Typical33"Biggest
Lengths measured · 23 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 23 fish
2023Lengths measured · 40 fish
2017Lengths measured · 44 fish
2011Lengths measured · 49 fish
2005Yellow perchOne of the best around35per gill net5"Typical6"Biggest
Lengths measured · 104 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 104 fish
2023Lengths measured · 88 fish
2017Lengths measured · 564 fish
2011Lengths measured · 80 fish
2005Rates 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 Island Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 1.1 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 8-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. In 1.1 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops. A 8-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 | Northern pike | Yellow perch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 22" | 33" | 6" |
| 2017 | — | 29" | 12" |
| 2011 | — | 30" | 10" |
| 2005 | — | 32" | 13" |
| 1999 | — | 35" | 11" |
| 1994 | — | 19" | 9" |
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 · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
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
Yellow perch · Live bait
Clip-On Bobber + Worm
half to whole garden nightcrawler
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Tungsten Jig + Micro Plastic
1–1.5" micro plastic
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Northern Pike | 297 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Northern Pike | 1,120 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Island Lake was conducted beginning on August 26, 2024, 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 all 10 sampling stations. A 50-foot seine was used to sample 6 stations and a 15-foot seine was used at 2 stations. Sampling was difficult at 2 stations, which were not seined because site conditions prevented wading. Nearshore sampling captured 5 species of fish, including 3 species that are tolerant of disturbance (Black Bullhead, Fathead Minnow, and Green Sunfish).
The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from a survey conducted by area fisheries staff in July of 2023 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, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish and Fathead Minnow). 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.
Read the full DNR narrative
Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Island Lake is adversely impacted by stressors, as indicated by an FIBI score below the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Redwood River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
Island Lake is heavily impacted by environmental stressors. You can help the fishery in Island Lake recover by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Island Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Island 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
- Island Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Island Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Goose Lake · 150 ac · 1.7 mi
- Wood Lake · 373 ac · 2 mi
- Dead Coon (Main Lake) · 547 ac · 4.4 mi
- Clear Lake · 66 ac · 4.6 mi
- Brawner Lake · 30 ac · 5.5 mi
- Stay Lake · 221 ac · 8 mi
- Rock Lake · 379 ac · 8.2 mi
- McKay Lake · 167 ac · 9.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Island Lake?
Island Lake reaches 8 ft at its deepest point; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Island Lake?
Island Lake covers 170 acres with about 2.9 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Island Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Island Lake average 1.1 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Island Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, northern pike, yellow perch.
Is Island Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked northern pike in 2022; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Island Lake have a public access?
Yes. Island Lake has one public access site: Island Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Island Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 22"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Island Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Island Lake in 2024, the most recent of 9 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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