Minnesota · Meeker County
Jennie Lake Fishing guide
Jennie Lake sits in Meeker County, Minnesota, and covers 1,069 acres, reaching 15 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 7.4 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 19 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Good numbers4.5per gill net11"Typical29"Biggest
Lengths measured · 109 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 95 fish
2024Lengths measured · 14 fish
2022Lengths measured · 25 fish
2020Lengths measured · 40 fish
2018Northern pikeJust a few5.7per gill net23"Typical34"Biggest
Lengths measured · 137 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 77 fish
2024Lengths measured · 60 fish
2022Lengths measured · 84 fish
2020Lengths measured · 122 fish
2018BluegillPresent0.4per gill net7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 71 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 8 fish
2024Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 61 fish
2024Lengths measured · 2 fish
2022Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 11 fish
2020CrappieLast stocked 2018Present, stocked3.5per gill net7"Typical14"Biggest
Lengths measured · 147 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 20 fish
2024Lengths measured · 64 fish
2024Lengths measured · 63 fish
2022Lengths measured · 29 fish
2020Yellow perchExcellent numbers14.1per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 339 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 171 fish
2024Lengths measured · 168 fish
2022Lengths measured · 174 fish
2020Lengths measured · 477 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 Jennie 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. 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 15-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.
- 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 15-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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 29" | 18" | 34" |
| 2022 | 28" | — | 32" |
| 2020 | 28" | — | 34" |
| 2018 | 28" | 20" | 31" |
| 2016 | 25" | 20" | 33" |
| 2014 | 26" | 19" | 31" |
| 2012 | 26" | 18" | 34" |
| 2007 | 28" | 18" | 36" |
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 · Soft plastics
Flipping/Punching Creature Bait
4" beaver/creature-style bait
Northern pike · Hardbaits
Weedless Spoon + Trailer (Silver Minnow)
3/8–1/2 oz weedless spoon
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Weighted-EWG Weedless Swimbait
5" paddletail swimbait
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 | 533,196 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 533,491 fry |
| 2018 | Black Crappie | 3,000 yearlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 100 fingerlings · 4,843 yearlings · 69 adults |
| 2016 | Walleye | 1,064,675 fry · 342 fingerlings · 949 yearlings · 1,709 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Jennie is a large-sized lake (1,068 acres) located south of the city of Dassel in Meeker County. A large state-owned access with paved parking and a double cement boat ramp is available on the south shore. A small state-owned access with grassy parking and a cement boat ramp can be found on the lake's north shore. There is also a fishing pier at the southern access. Jennie has approximately six miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of fifteen feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Jennie is a class 41 lake and other similar waterbodies in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Washington Lake in Meeker County and Cedar Lake in McLeod County. The Jennie Lake 2022 lake management plan listed Northern Pike as the primary management species, while Walleye, Bluegill and Largemouth Bass were secondary species. Summer gill netting was completed in 2024 to monitor the fish population. Curlyleaf pondweed, a submergent aquatic plant, can reach nuisance levels across the relatively shallow basin of Jennie Lake.
In 2024, Walleye number rebounded after a decade of low abundance. The 2008 year classes has been carrying the Jennie Walleye population since 2012, and some of these fish were still sampled in 2024. The rebound was the result of back-to-back successful year classes in 2022 and 2023. While the population is still developing, anglers have begun to find these fish. The 2023 year class may be the next flag bearer as 58% of the Walleye catch was from this year class. In the next couple years, Walleye fishing should be productive. For the past decade Jennie has been known for its pike. This past year was no different. There's still good numbers of pike and good quality. The average size was 22.1 inches with pike up to 34.9 inches sampled in 2024. Approximately 16% of pike netted were 26 inches or longer.
Read the full DNR narrative
Jennie's Black Crappie fishing has been down for a while. While net catches don't reflect it. There was a very good crappie bite in the spring of 2024. Large fish were seen in nets with an average size of 10.1 inches and fish up 14.2 inches sampled.
For a long time, Jennie has been known as a great spot for big Largemouth Bass. This species can only be evaluated with electrofishing. However, area staff receive many reports of great bass fishing. This lake is well known among locals and the high school bass tournament circuit.
Bluegill, while not well sampled in gill nets, are known for large sized fish spread throughout Jennie Lake. Fish up to 8.5 inches were captured during the 2024 gill net assessment, and fish over ten inches have been sampled within the last 10 years. High numbers of yellow perch were sampled, but most were small with an average length of 7.0 inches. These perch are likely going to provide excellent forage and its possible some will grow large enough to attract the interest of anglers.
Additional species sampled in the 2024 include Black Bullhead, Bluegill, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Golden Shiner, an Yellow Perch.
People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Overharvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local MNDNR office. Additional information on all these topics can be found on the MNDNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Jennie Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Jennie 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
- Jennie Lake (N) (trailer launch)
- Jennie Lake (S) (trailer launch)
- Jennie Lake Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Jennie Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Wolf Lake · 262 ac · 1.8 mi
- Todd Lake · 214 ac · 2.1 mi
- Hook Lake · 330 ac · 3.3 mi
- Erie Lake · 190 ac · 4.3 mi
- Belle Lake · 864 ac · 4.7 mi
- Collinwood Lake · 639 ac · 5.1 mi
- Stahl's Lake · 141 ac · 5.3 mi
- Washington Lake · 2,438 ac · 5.4 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Jennie Lake?
Jennie Lake reaches 15 ft at its deepest point; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Jennie Lake?
Jennie Lake covers 1,069 acres with about 5.8 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Jennie Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Jennie Lake average 7.4 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Jennie Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Jennie Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Jennie Lake have a public access?
Yes. Jennie Lake has 3 public access sites, including Jennie Lake (N) (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Jennie Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 29"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2007.
When was Jennie Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Jennie Lake in 2024, the most recent of 19 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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