Minnesota · Douglas County

Lake Miltona Fishing guide

Lake Miltona is a 5,731-acre lake in Douglas County, Minnesota, reaching 105 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 10.7 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 17 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.

Open the live map → Survey data

Depth to 105 ft · top 5 summer marks

Surface5,731 ac

Max depth105 ft

Clarity10.7 ft

Littoral48%

Surveyed2023

How to fish Lake Miltona through the year

Walleye

Spring: Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 10.7 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. On a lake that drops to 105 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. At 10.7 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. On a lake that drops to 105 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	Smallmouth bass
2023	28"	15"	18"
2019	26"	17"	17"
2015	26"	15"	18"
2011	25"	17"	19"
2007	27"	17"	18"
2003	26"	18"	19"
1999	27"	17"	16"
1995	26"	19"	15"

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

8–35 ftslow

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Walleye · Trolling

Leadcore Line + Crankbaits

4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run

15–45 fttrolling

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Largemouth bass · Soft plastics

Texas-Rigged Worm

7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm

1–25 ftdead slow

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Largemouth bass · Soft plastics

Free Rig

Creature bait or magnum finesse worm

8–30 ftdead slowweedless

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Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics

Ned Rig

2.75" finesse stickbait or craw-style Ned bait

5–25 ftdead slowweedless

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Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics

Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)

4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic

8–40 ftdead slowweedless

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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	Muskellunge	1,381 fingerlings · 4 yearlings
2025	Walleye	2,759,000 fry · 26,104 fingerlings · 35 yearlings · 1,062 adults
2024	Walleye	30,000 fingerlings
2023	Muskellunge	1,400 fingerlings
2023	Walleye	2,759,000 fry · 45,000 fingerlings
2022	Walleye	1,830,000 fry · 60,844 fingerlings
2021	Muskellunge	1,400 fingerlings
2021	Walleye	2,759,000 fry · 30,000 fingerlings
2020	Walleye	39,000 fingerlings
2019	Muskellunge	1,406 fingerlings
2019	Walleye	2,759,000 fry · 42,867 fingerlings
2018	Walleye	35,000 fingerlings

Stocking records before 2018 omitted.

MN DNR · in their words

From the 2023 survey

Lake Miltona, located north of Alexandria between the towns of Miltona and Leaf Valley, is the largest (5,724 acres) recreational fishing lake in Douglas County. Maximum depth exceeds 100 feet. The lake supports a productive fishery since nearly half of the basin is less than 15 feet in depth and a well oxygenated thermal refuge area exists for coolwater fishes during summer months. Lake Miltona lies within the Long Prairie River watershed and is connected to Lake Ida to the south and Lake Irene to the east via non-navigable channels. Water quality and clarity are considered good. Water clarity has increased since establishment of zebra mussels and often exceeds 15 feet during summer months. Residential development surrounds much of the lake. This lake is a very popular destination for both anglers and recreational boaters. Recreational pressure can be high, especially on weekend days during summer months. Three public accesses are present. Parking is limited on the west access. Primary fish management efforts are focused on Walleye and Muskellunge with bass and sunfish being species of secondary management importance.

A standard fisheries survey was completed in 2023 to assess the fish community and gain updated estimates of abundance and size structure of gamefish populations. Lake Miltona is well known as a quality Walleye fishery. Walleye abundance (10.8 fish/gill net) has increased since the record-low level that was documented in 2019. Current abundance is now considered high when compared to similar lakes across Minnesota. Higher abundance can be attributed to increased survival and recruitment of young fish in recent years. Almost 65% of the gill net sample was comprised of Walleyes age 3 or younger. Mean size of Walleye captured in 2023 was 15.2 inches and 1.4 pounds. Lake Miltona supports a popular Muskellunge fishery. It is one of three lakes within the Glenwood Management Area where Muskellunge fingerlings are stocked. The "trophy" potential of this lake is relatively high. Previous angler reports and survey findings indicate that fish exceeding 50 inches are not uncommon. The current statewide regulation is a 54-inch minimum length limit. All muskies less than 54 inches in total length (tip of closed mouth to tip of closed tail fin) must be released immediately. Lake Miltona supports both Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass populations. Largemouth Bass are more abundant but average size of Smallmouth Bass tends to be larger. The largest Smallmouth Bass sampled in 2023 was just shy of 19 inches. Black Crappie and Bluegill populations tend to exhibit moderate abundance and size structure. Average length of Black Crappie in 2023 was 9.2 inches in trap nets and 10.6 inches in gill nets. Average length of Bluegill in 2023 was 6.3 inches in trap nets and 5.3 inches in gill nets. Northern Pike are not abundant (2.1 fish/gill net) but size structure of this population has improved in recent years. Average size in 2023 was 23.2 inches and 3.1 pounds. The largest pike measured was almost 33 inches. Muskellunge likely aid in keeping the pike population from becoming overabundant. Northern Pike zone regulations were implemented in 2018 to help improve pike size structure. Lake Miltona is located in the North-Central Zone. Anglers can keep up to 10 pike but not more than two can be over 26 inches in length. All pike between 22-26 inches must be immediately released. Yellow Perch abundance (12.0 fish/gill net) continues to decline. Harvestable-size perch are present, but the majority of this population is comprised of smaller individuals.

Read the full DNR narrative

Other species collected during the 2023 survey include Black, Brown, and Yellow Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Tullibee (Cisco), and White Sucker. The next lake survey is tentatively scheduled for 2027.

Lake Miltona is designated as an infested waterbody due to the presence of zebra mussels, which were first confirmed in 2012. For more information regarding aquatic invasive species in Minnesota see the following: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquatic/index.html.

Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.

Recent reports

Lake Miltona fishing reports

Recent reports on Lake Miltona 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.

Open the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report

All Lake Miltona fishing reports → · Douglas County reports

Public water access

Getting on the water

Miltona Lake (NW) (trailer launch)
Miltona Lake, Parson Park (NE) (trailer launch)
Miltona Lake, Sandy Beach (trailer launch)

DNR bathymetry

Lake Miltona depth map

Lake Miltona depth contour map, Douglas County, Minnesota — Depth contours to 105 ft from Minnesota DNR bathymetry, free to save or print. The live map adds ranked spots and conditions on the same contours.

Within 30 miles

Nearby lakes

Vermont Lake · 342 ac · 3 mi
Lake Irene · 639 ac · 3.7 mi
Lake Ida · 4,445 ac · 4.3 mi
Indian Lake · 99 ac · 4.9 mi
Lake Carlos · 2,605 ac · 5.5 mi
Fish Lake · 489 ac · 6.4 mi
Lake Adley · 241 ac · 6.8 mi
Lake Louise · 215 ac · 8 mi

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

How deep is Lake Miltona?

Lake Miltona reaches 105 ft at its deepest point; about 48% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).

How big is Lake Miltona?

Lake Miltona covers 5,731 acres with about 17.5 miles of shoreline.

How clear is the water in Lake Miltona?

DNR Secchi readings on Lake Miltona average 10.7 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.

What fish are in Lake Miltona?

Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.

Is Lake Miltona stocked?

Yes. The DNR stocked muskellunge and walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2018.

Does Lake Miltona have a public access?

Yes. Lake Miltona has 3 public access sites, including Miltona Lake (NW) (trailer launch).

How big do walleye get in Lake Miltona?

The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 28"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1995.

When was Lake Miltona last surveyed?

The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Lake Miltona in 2023, the most recent of 17 surveys on record.

Page updated October 28, 2026.

The live map adds today's conditions and ranked spots for Lake Miltona, plus a trip plan you can share:

Open Lake Miltona on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report