Minnesota · Douglas County
Lake Irene Fishing guide
Lake Irene covers 639 acres in Douglas County, Minnesota, reaching 44 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 6.5 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 12 times, most recently in 2022, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Largemouth bassPresent1per trap net12"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 11 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 11 fish
2022Lengths measured · 68 fish
2020Lengths measured · 129 fish
2014Lengths measured · 229 fish
2010Northern pikePresent0.9per trap net22"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 10 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 10 fish
2022Lengths measured · 67 fish
2020Lengths measured · 69 fish
2014Lengths measured · 55 fish
2010BluegillJust a few21.4per trap net6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 493 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 122 fish
2022Lengths measured · 371 fish
2021Lengths measured · 119 fish
2020Lengths measured · 442 fish
2014CrappieJust a few4.3per trap net9"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 98 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 11 fish
2022Lengths measured · 87 fish
2021Lengths measured · 106 fish
2020Lengths measured · 72 fish
2014No recent survey rating.
Rates 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 Irene 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. On a lake that drops to 44 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- 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.
- 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. On a lake that drops to 44 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 15" | 17" | 25" |
| 2020 | 25" | 17" | 34" |
| 2014 | 28" | 17" | 27" |
| 2010 | 26" | 18" | 30" |
| 2005 | 28" | 18" | 31" |
| 2000 | 26" | 18" | 38" |
| 1994 | 26" | 19" | 28" |
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 · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 5,254 fingerlings |
| 2024 | Walleye | 14,400 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 11,360 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 740 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 6,000 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 10,080 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 900 yearlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 16,939 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 6,000 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2022 survey
A summer trap net survey in Irene Lake was conducted by DNR Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff on August 3-5, 2022. Twelve trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured 10 species of fish, including one that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Green Sunfish). Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Northern Pike, Hybrid Sunfish, and Pumpkinseed comprised a majority by biomass.
The trap net data were combined with nearshore and gill net data from a 2020 survey 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 Cisco), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead, Common Carp, 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 indicate that the fish community in Irene Lake is likely impacted by stressors as indicated by an FIBI score that is near the general use threshold determined for similar lakes. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Long Prairie Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Lake Irene fishing reports
Recent reports on Lake Irene 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
- Irene Lake (E) (trailer launch)
- Irene Lake (N) (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Lake Irene depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Lake Miltona · 5,731 ac · 3.7 mi
- Vermont Lake · 342 ac · 3.8 mi
- Mill Pond · 54 ac · 4.5 mi
- Lake Adley · 241 ac · 5.3 mi
- Fish Lake · 489 ac · 6.9 mi
- Lake Carlos · 2,605 ac · 7.3 mi
- Lake Ida · 4,445 ac · 7.6 mi
- Indian Lake · 99 ac · 8.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Lake Irene?
Lake Irene reaches 44 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 19.8 ft; about 38% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Lake Irene?
Lake Irene covers 639 acres with about 4.2 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Lake Irene?
DNR Secchi readings on Lake Irene average 6.5 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Lake Irene?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2022) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Lake Irene stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Lake Irene have a public access?
Yes. Lake Irene has 2 public access sites, including Irene Lake (E) (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Lake Irene?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 15"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Lake Irene last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Lake Irene in 2022, the most recent of 12 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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