Minnesota · Douglas County
Lake Agnes Fishing guide
Lake Agnes covers 138 acres in Douglas County, Minnesota, reaching 31 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 11.6 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 11 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Good numbers5.7per gill net18"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 17 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 17 fish
2023Lengths measured · 5 fish
2017Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 2 fish
2011Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 6 fish
2007Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Largemouth bassGood numbers75per hr (electrofishing)13"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 76 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 76 fish
2023Lengths measured · 7 fish
2017Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 3 fish
2011Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 82 fish
2007No recent survey rating.
BluegillJust a few16.5per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 69 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 69 fish
2023Lengths measured · 17 fish
2017Lengths measured · 29 fish
2011Lengths measured · 97 fish
2007Yellow perchOne of the best around45.3per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 139 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 139 fish
2023Lengths measured · 79 fish
2017Lengths measured · 43 fish
2011Lengths measured · 523 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 Lake Agnes through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 11.6 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.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. At 11.6 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
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 | 27" | 18" | 30" |
| 2017 | 21" | 16" | 36" |
| 2011 | 20" | 14" | 40" |
| 2007 | 22" | 19" | 31" |
| 2003 | — | 18" | 27" |
| 1999 | — | 17" | 26" |
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
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
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
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
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 | 61,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 61,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 61,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 168 fingerlings · 205 yearlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 1,164 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2023 survey
Lake Agnes is a small (137 acres), productive basin located within the Long Prairie River watershed. Mean and maximum depths are 12 and 31 feet, respectively. Lake Agnes, along with lakes Henry and Winona, comprise a chain of lakes within the city limits of Alexandria. Lakes Agnes and Henry are broadly connected with a common "narrows" area between the two basins. A shallow sand and rock bar separates the two basins. This bar is only one to two feet under the water surface during normal water levels. A public access is located along the southwest shoreline. Boaters should note that motorized watercraft operation on Lake Agnes is regulated by a slow, no-wake restriction. A popular walking trail surrounds the majority of the lake and public ownership of portions of the southwest and northeast shoreline provides shore fishing opportunities. A handicapped accessible fishing pier is located in City Park on the northeast shore. A second public fishing pier is located on the south shore off the Central Lakes Trail.
A standard MN DNR lake survey was completed in summer 2023 to assess the fish community. Gamefish populations continue to expand in this basin as water quality and clarity continue to improve and aquatic vegetation becomes more abundant. The shallow, productive nature of this basin results in fast growth and larger average size for most gamefishes. A quality Largemouth Bass population was evident in 2023. This population is currently protected by a special 12- to 20-inch protected slot limit. All bass 12 to 20 inches in length must be immediately released with one bass over 20 inches allowed in possession. Panfish species commonly targeted by anglers include Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Yellow Perch. Black Crappie abundance has substantially declined in recent years due to a 2021 summerkill event that predominantly affected this species. Crappie fisheries are typically "boom or bust" in nature so hopefully this population recovers soon. Bluegill numbers have increased in recent years. The current population is characterized as moderate, in terms of both abundance and size structure. Yellow Perch are abundant. Harvestable-size perch are available but smaller fish tend to dominate this population. Northern Pike tend to exhibit lower abundance but larger average size on this basin. Record-high Walleye abundance was documented in 2023. Multiple year classes were sampled, with an average size of 16.6 inches and 2.2 pounds.
Read the full DNR narrative
Other fish species sampled in the 2023 survey included Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Green Sunfish, and White Sucker. White Suckers were particularly abundant.
The next lake survey is tentatively scheduled for 2028.
Lake Agnes is designated as an infested waterbody due to the presence of zebra mussels, which were first confirmed in 2022. For more information regarding aquatic invasive species in Minnesota see the following: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquatic/index.html.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Lake Agnes fishing reports
Recent reports on Lake Agnes 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
- Agnes Lake (trailer launch)
- Agnes/Henty Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Lake Agnes depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Lake Henry · 152 ac · 0.6 mi
- Lake Winona · 213 ac · 1.3 mi
- Lake Darling · 1,050 ac · 2 mi
- Lake Cowdrey · 243 ac · 2.1 mi
- Lake Geneva · 640 ac · 2.3 mi
- Lake Victoria · 417 ac · 2.4 mi
- Lake Le Homme Dieu · 1,801 ac · 2.5 mi
- Lottie Lake · 46 ac · 2.6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Lake Agnes?
Lake Agnes reaches 31 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 12 ft; about 45% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Lake Agnes?
Lake Agnes covers 138 acres with about 1.7 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Lake Agnes?
DNR Secchi readings on Lake Agnes average 11.6 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Lake Agnes?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Lake Agnes stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Lake Agnes have a public access?
Yes. Lake Agnes has 2 public access sites, including Agnes Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Lake Agnes?
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 1999.
When was Lake Agnes last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Lake Agnes in 2023, the most recent of 11 surveys on record.
Page updated .
Featured guide spot
Your guide service here
One featured guide per lake, with your photo, your writeup and a link straight to your booking page. Free through December 31, 2026.
Then $20 a month from January. Cancel any time.
The live map adds today's conditions and ranked spots for Lake Agnes, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open Lake Agnes on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report