Minnesota · Douglas County
Lake Mina Fishing guide
Lake Mina is a 411-acre lake in Douglas County, Minnesota, reaching 123 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 10.8 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 13 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and muskellunge in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Present, stocked0.7per trap net21"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 13 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 2 fish
2023Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 11 fish
2022Lengths measured · 8 fish
2020Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 48 fish
2014Largemouth bassJust a few1.6per hr (electrofishing)6"Typical15"Biggest
Lengths measured · 22 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 3 fish
2023Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 19 fish
2022Lengths measured · 21 fish
2020Lengths measured · 81 fish
2014Northern pikePresent0.9per hr (electrofishing)18"Typical29"Biggest
Lengths measured · 11 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 7 fish
2023Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 4 fish
2022Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 75 fish
2020Lengths measured · 68 fish
2014Last recorded in the 2020 survey and not seen since.
BluegillJust a few21.6per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 388 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 72 fish
2023Lengths measured · 316 fish
2022Lengths measured · 20 fish
2020Lengths measured · 199 fish
2014Rock bassGood numbers0.9per trap net7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 16 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 8 fish
2023Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 8 fish
2022Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 14 fish
2020Lengths measured · 29 fish
2014Rates 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 Mina through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 10.8 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 123 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 10.8 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 123 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 28" | 15" | 29" |
| 2022 | 27" | 9" | 23" |
| 2020 | 29" | 15" | 30" |
| 2014 | 28" | 16" | 28" |
| 2009 | 30" | 15" | 33" |
| 2006 | 27" | 18" | 28" |
| 2002 | 29" | 19" | 29" |
| 1997 | 29" | 15" | 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 · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
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 | 671 yearlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 5,070 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 226 adults |
| 2020 | Walleye | 317 yearlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 817 yearlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 486 yearlings · 25 adults |
| 2016 | Walleye | 1,360 fingerlings · 20 yearlings · 288 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2023 survey
A targeted survey of the nearshore fish community in Mina Lake was conducted by Fisheries Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program Staff from 11-13 July 2023. Ten sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 15-foot or 50-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 10 sites with two sites sampled from the boat. A 50-foot seine was used to sample seven sites and soft sediments with abundant vegetation and deep water prevented the use of seines at three sampling sites. Nearshore sampling captured 21 native species of fish including six species that are intolerant of disturbance (Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Least Darter, and Pugnose Shiner) and one species (Green Sunfish) that is tolerant of disturbance.
A concurrent summer trap net survey was conducted on 11-13 July 2023 by IBI Program Staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline that encompassed multiple habitat types. Bluegill, Hybrid Sunfish, and Yellow Bullhead comprised a majority of the trap net catch by number and Northern Pike, Walleye, and Yellow Bullhead comprised a majority of the catch by biomass. The number of Bluegill sampled per net was about the 25% quartile for similar Lake Class 25 lakes and the average length was 5.3 inches, with 21% over 7 inches.
Read the full DNR narrative
The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from a July 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 Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead, Fathead Minnow, and Green Sunfish). 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. An additional survey was completed on Mina Lake in July 2022 resulting in a similar FIBI score. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
Data from this survey indicates an exceptional fish community is present in Mina Lake and it is in good health as indicated by an FIBI score well above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Long Prairie River Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Lake Mina fishing reports
Recent reports on Lake Mina 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
- Mina Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Lake Mina depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Cork Lake · 101 ac · 1.4 mi
- Lake Brophy · 297 ac · 1.8 mi
- Lottie Lake · 46 ac · 2.3 mi
- Lake Latoka · 767 ac · 2.3 mi
- Lake Stony · 87 ac · 2.5 mi
- Mud Lake · 86 ac · 2.5 mi
- North Union Lake · 118 ac · 2.6 mi
- Lake Cowdrey · 243 ac · 2.8 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Lake Mina?
Lake Mina reaches 123 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 28 ft; about 38% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Lake Mina?
Lake Mina covers 411 acres with about 6.9 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Lake Mina?
DNR Secchi readings on Lake Mina average 10.8 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Lake Mina?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Lake Mina stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Lake Mina have a public access?
Yes. Lake Mina has one public access site: Mina Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Lake Mina?
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 1997.
When was Lake Mina last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Lake Mina in 2023, the most recent of 13 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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