Minnesota · Lyon County
Lady Slipper Lake Fishing guide
Lady Slipper Lake sits in Lyon County, Minnesota, and covers 286 acres, reaching 11 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 1.5 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 12 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, northern pike, bluegill and yellow perch in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers3.5per gill net8"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 30 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 11 fish
2023Lengths measured · 30 fish
2022Lengths measured · 51 fish
2019Lengths measured · 127 fish
2018No recent survey rating.
No recent survey rating.
Yellow perchFair numbers3.5per gill net9"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 12 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 12 fish
2022Lengths measured · 35 fish
2017Lengths measured · 104 fish
2012Lengths measured · 244 fish
2007Rates 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 Lady Slipper Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 1.5 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 11-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Yellow perch
- Spring
- Perch are draping eggs over flooded cover and weed stems on the shallow flats. In 1.5 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Perch are spread over sand-grass flats and the first weed edges in loose packs.
- Summer
- Perch are over deeper soft-bottom flats and the basin, on the bottom and in schools. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Perch are roaming the mid-depth flats in loose schools, chasing young-of-year bait while it is still shallow. A 11-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 | Yellow perch | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 10" | — | — |
| 2022 | 18" | 10" | — |
| 2019 | 8" | — | — |
| 2018 | 8" | — | — |
| 2017 | 26" | 11" | — |
| 2016 | 6" | — | — |
| 2014 | 6" | — | — |
| 2012 | 23" | 10" | — |
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 · Trolling
Planer Board Spread
4–6" crankbait or a 5–6 ft crawler harness run out to the side on an in-line planer board
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Tungsten Jig + Micro Plastic
1–1.5" micro plastic
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 | 102,270 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 101,934 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 152,525 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 145,309 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 142,917 fry · 246 fingerlings · 68 adults |
| 2019 | Walleye | 150,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 357,952 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 285,998 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2023 survey
A targeted fall night electrofishing survey was conducted on Lady Slipper during September 11, 2023 to evaluate young of year "YOY" (fingerling sized) Walleye numbers due to a fry stocking. Three electrofishing stations were sampled for a total of 30 minutes. Clarity was poor (1.5 feet). The water temperature was 71 F. Sago Pondweed was rare. Abundant numbers of Common Carp and Black Bullhead were observed in the 2023 fall 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).
Lady Slipper is a small (286 acres), shallow (11 feet maximum), aerated, and productive lake located in Lyon County. The aeration system is comprised of two surface Aeromix type units located along the east shore of the main basin. A significant winterkill likely occurred during February of 2019 on Lady Slipper and connected School Grove Lake. Although floating dead fish were less apparent in Lady Slipper than School Grove Lake during the 2019 spring. We caught abundant numbers of small Common Carp and Black Bullhead in spring test netting during 2019. A few small Yellow Perch were also caught in the 2019 spring trapnets. A partial winterkill may have occurred during February of 2021-2022 winter on Lady Slipper. Low oxygen levels (< 2 ppm) were also noted during the 2022-2023 winter. There were reports of winterkill (Common Carp and Walleye) in the spring of 2023. Three six foot single frame trapnets (two 3/8 inch and one 1/4 inch bar mesh) were set on 05/11/23 to assess winterkill survival of fish in Lady Slipper. Dead decaying Common Carp were observed along the shoreline. However, live spawning Common Carp were observed in the near shore cattail areas. Abundant numbers of Common Carp and Black Bullhead of all sizes were captured in the 2023 spring trapnets. No gamefish were captured in the 2023 spring trapnets. Water clarity was turbid with 66 F. High water conditions were the norm in the 2023 spring.
Read the full DNR narrative
Walleye natural reproduction in Lady Slipper is generally infrequent and insignificant based on previous surveys. Walleye fry were recently stocked into Lady Slipper (142,000 to 358,000 fry) during 2008, 2010, 2012-2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021-2023. Approximately 152,500 Spicer strain Walleye fry were stocked in Lady Slipper during 2023. Walleye fingerlings (246 fish, 41 pounds) and adults (68 fish, 125 pounds) were last stocked into Lady Slipper during 2021.
Low YOY Walleye numbers (6.00/hour, 4.72 inches) were caught in the 2023 fall night electrofishing survey. Moderate yearling Walleye numbers were present in 2023 (27.00/hour, 9.36 inches). Abundant YOY Walleye numbers (153.00 YOY/hour, 7.56 inches) were captured in the 2019 fall electrofishing survey. There were abundant YOY Walleye numbers captured (381.00 YOY/hour, 6.72 inches) during the 2018 fall electrofishing survey. No yearling Walleye were captured in 2014, 2016, 2018 or 2019 fall electrofishing surveys. YOY Walleye numbers were abundant in the 2016 (180.00 YOY/hour, 5.63 inches), 2014 (584.00 YOY/hour, 4.95 inches) and 2010 (365.99 YOY/hour, 7.03 inches) fall night electrofishing surveys. The highest YOY Walleye catch rate (846.01 YOY/hour, 5.68 inches) occurred for Lady Slipper in 2008. Low YOY Walleye numbers (8.00 YOY/hour, 7.95 inches) were captured in the 2013 fall electrofishing survey. YOY Walleye were not captured in 2012 (0.00 YOY/hour), but yearling Walleye (2012 year class) were present in moderate numbers (12.00 YOY/hour) during the 2013 fall electrofishing survey. We observed abundant/moderate numbers of Common Carp, Black Bullhead and Fathead Minnow in the 2019 fall electrofishing survey.
Walleye abundance was low (3.50 fish/gillnet) in the recent 2022 summer survey. The Walleye historical average catch rate is 25.06 fish/gillnet. The 2022 Walleye trapnet catch rate (2.56 fish/trapnet) was also below the Lady Slipper historical average (4.70 fish/trapnet). The 2022 Walleye average weight and length were 1.11 pounds and 14.06 inches from gillnets. The 2022 Walleye average weight and length were 0.70 pounds and 11.22 inches from trapnets. The historical average length is 14.23 inches and 14.82 inches from gillnets and trapnets respectively. The 2022 catch rate of quality size (15.00 inches plus) Walleye was low (1.33 fish/gillnet). The 2021 and 2019 year classes comprised 53% and 30% respectively of the 2022 Walleye catch. Adult Walleye numbers may be significantly reduced as of 2023 due to partial winterkill during the 2022-2023 winter.
The Lady Slipper Lake fishery will be sampled in the 2027 for all fish species. Walleye fry are scheduled for annual stocking. A fall night electrofishing survey will be periodically conducted during Walleye fry stocked years.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Lady Slipper Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Lady Slipper 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
- Lady Slipper Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Lady Slipper Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- School Grove Lake · 349 ac · 1.5 mi
- Cottonwood Lake · 383 ac · 4.1 mi
- Tyson Lake · 166 ac · 5.4 mi
- Wood Lake · 485 ac · 9.1 mi
- Brawner Lake · 30 ac · 21.9 mi
- Island Lake · 170 ac · 23 mi
- Clear Lake · 66 ac · 23.4 mi
- McKay Lake · 167 ac · 24.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Lady Slipper Lake?
Lady Slipper Lake reaches 11 ft at its deepest point; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Lady Slipper Lake?
Lady Slipper Lake covers 286 acres with about 4.2 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Lady Slipper Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Lady Slipper Lake average 1.5 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Lady Slipper Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, northern pike, bluegill, yellow perch.
Is Lady Slipper Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Lady Slipper Lake have a public access?
Yes. Lady Slipper Lake has one public access site: Lady Slipper Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Lady Slipper Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 18"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2012.
When was Lady Slipper Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Lady Slipper Lake in 2023, the most recent of 12 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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