Minnesota · Swift County
Lake Oliver Fishing guide
Lake Oliver covers 686 acres in Swift County, Minnesota, reaching 18 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 10.3 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 13 times, most recently in 2017, with walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets. That survey is 9 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2020One of the best around18.8per gill net17"Typical29"Biggest
Lengths measured · 472 fish
Recent · 2013 + 2016Lengths measured · 262 fish
2016Lengths measured · 210 fish
2013Lengths measured · 242 fish
2010Lengths measured · 122 fish
2008Smallmouth bassFair numbers12.7per hr (electrofishing)6"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 155 fish
Recent · 2013 + 2016Lengths measured · 87 fish
2016Lengths measured · 68 fish
2013Lengths measured · 1 fish
2010Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
No recent survey rating.
BluegillJust a few8per trap net1"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 3001 fish
Recent · 2013 + 2016Lengths measured · 674 fish
2016Lengths measured · 2327 fish
2013Lengths measured · 936 fish
2010Lengths measured · 268 fish
2007CrappieJust a few7.5per trap net1"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 5463 fish
Recent · 2013 + 2016Lengths measured · 299 fish
2016Lengths measured · 5164 fish
2013Lengths measured · 4940 fish
2010Lengths measured · 3628 fish
2007Yellow perchExcellent numbers25.9per gill net7"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 429 fish
Recent · 2013 + 2016Lengths measured · 179 fish
2016Lengths measured · 250 fish
2013Lengths measured · 160 fish
2010Lengths measured · 449 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 Oliver through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 10.3 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. A 18-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Smallmouth bass
- Spring
- Smallmouth are on shallow rock, gravel and sand where they spawn. At 10.3 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Smallmouth are post-spawn on rock points, gravel bars and the adjacent breaks.
- Summer
- Smallmouth are on rock humps, points and hard-bottom breaks.
- Fall
- Smallmouth are bunched tight on deep rock, so find one and you have found the school. A 18-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 | Smallmouth bass | Yellow perch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 29" | 18" | 11" |
| 2013 | 26" | 15" | 13" |
| 2010 | 24" | 3" | 11" |
| 2008 | 10" | — | — |
| 2007 | 26" | — | 11" |
| 2004 | 27" | — | 10" |
| 2001 | 25" | — | 10" |
| 1998 | 22" | — | 11" |
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 · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Ned Rig
2.75" finesse stickbait or craw-style Ned bait
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Yellow perch · Live bait
Slip Bobber + Leech
jumbo or large leech
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Walleye | 1,563 yearlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 200,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 200,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 767 yearlings · 1,379 adults |
| 2016 | Walleye | 201,185 fry · 25,902 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2017 survey
A targeted survey of the nearshore fish community in Oliver Lake (both basins combined) was conducted on July 6, 2017 by Ortonville Area Fisheries staff. Sampling stations were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 14 sites. A 50-foot seine was used to sample two stations and a 15-foot seine was used at twelve stations. At times submerged and emergent trees made sampling difficult, particularly on the south shore of the lake. Nearshore sampling captured 15 native species of fish including two species that are intolerant of habitat disturbance in Iowa Darter and Smallmouth Bass.
Data from this targeted nearshore survey was combined with data from a standard gill and trap net survey in June 2016 to calculate a Fish-based Index of Biologic Integrity (FIBI) score that describes the overall health of the lake. 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. 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. The FIBI score for Oliver Lake, based on this survey, is below 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 Pomme de Terre Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Lake Oliver fishing reports
Recent reports on Lake Oliver 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
- DNR access: Northwest conrer of east basin; off of Swift County #5
- DNR access: Northeast corner of west basin; off of Swift County #5
DNR bathymetry
Lake Oliver depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Oliver (east portion) Lake · 467 ac · 0.1 mi
- Oliver (west portion) Lake · 218 ac · 1.4 mi
- Artichoke Lake · 1,971 ac · 5.8 mi
- Shible Lake · 340 ac · 5.9 mi
- Dry Wood Lake · 404 ac · 6.1 mi
- Long Lake · 395 ac · 7.4 mi
- Marsh Lake · 4,462 ac · 11.6 mi
- Lake Hattie · 459 ac · 13.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Lake Oliver?
Lake Oliver reaches 18 ft at its deepest point; about 44% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Lake Oliver?
Lake Oliver covers 686 acres with about 7.9 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Lake Oliver?
DNR Secchi readings on Lake Oliver average 10.3 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Lake Oliver?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2017) record walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Lake Oliver stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2020; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Lake Oliver have a public access?
Yes. Lake Oliver has 2 public access sites, including a DNR access (Northwest conrer of east basin; off of Swift County #5).
How big do walleye get in Lake Oliver?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 29"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1998.
When was Lake Oliver last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Lake Oliver in 2017, the most recent of 13 surveys on record. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.
Page updated .
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