Minnesota · Douglas County
Lake Rachel Fishing guide
Lake Rachel is a 448-acre lake in Douglas County, Minnesota, reaching 65 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 7.7 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 13 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers2.1per gill net16"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 20 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 20 fish
2024Lengths measured · 14 fish
2018Lengths measured · 14 fish
2018Lengths measured · 38 fish
2012Largemouth bassFair numbers27per hr (electrofishing)14"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 37 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 37 fish
2024Lengths measured · 59 fish
2018Lengths measured · 102 fish
2012Lengths measured · 69 fish
2006Northern pikeFair numbers8.9per gill net20"Typical32"Biggest
Lengths measured · 86 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 86 fish
2024Lengths measured · 98 fish
2018Lengths measured · 98 fish
2018Lengths measured · 946 fish
2016BluegillJust a few22.3per trap net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 412 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 412 fish
2024Lengths measured · 327 fish
2018Lengths measured · 723 fish
2012Lengths measured · 499 fish
2006CrappieJust a few1per trap net7"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 51 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 51 fish
2024Lengths measured · 31 fish
2018Lengths measured · 26 fish
2012Lengths measured · 3 fish
2006Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
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 Rachel 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 65 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 65 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 27" | 19" | 32" |
| 2018 | 27" | 18" | 36" |
| 2016 | — | — | 38" |
| 2012 | 25" | 18" | 33" |
| 2006 | 23" | 18" | 34" |
| 2002 | 29" | 18" | 35" |
| 1997 | 24" | 16" | 29" |
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
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 307 yearlings · 105 adults |
| 2023 | Walleye | 11,242 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 2,793 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 11,216 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 5,195 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Rachel Lake is a 496 acre natural basin located in south central Douglas County near Holmes City. Maximum depth is 65 feet. Water quality and clarity are typically very good, although significant annual variability is noted. Rachel Lake supports a robust aquatic plant community. Habitat attributes are typical of a "Bass-Panfish" ecological classification, although lake area and habitat characteristics have varied over the last 20 years. Heavy rains resulted in significant increases in water levels in the 1990s. An outlet was constructed in 2003, but lake elevation remains near the ordinary high water mark. Much of the basin's emergent vegetation (hardstem bulrush and cattail) was lost to rising water, although rising water elevations did flood out some trees and there was an increase in woody habitat for fish. There is a navigable connection between the main basin and the smaller basin (Little Rachel) to the south. Boaters should use caution, as there is a number of tree stumps under the surface in this shallow water.
Northern Pike harvest is regulated by a 24-36 inch protected slot length limit. Due to the navigable connection between Rachel and Little Rachel lakes, the Northern Pike harvest regulation applies to both basins. Survey results suggest the 24-36 inch protected slot length limit has had a positive effect on reshaping size structure. Northern Pike abundance has remained elevated since the water levels increased in the 1990s, but the number of large pike has increased in recent years. A number of pike over 30 inches were observed in the recent survey. Despite a decrease in the number of small pike in the survey, they are still overabundant, and anglers are encouraged to harvest fish under 24 inches in length.
Read the full DNR narrative
Largemouth Bass abundance decreased during the last two surveys. Growth rates of bass are moderate and approximately half the bass were 14 inches or longer in this survey. Survival of young bass appears to be down in recent years. Bluegill catch rates were moderate and few fish over 8 inches were observed. Black Crappie abundance has increased, mostly due to an above average year class from 2021. Bluegill and Black Crappie grow slow in Rachel Lake, but they often live long enough to reach sizes desired by anglers.
Rachel Lake supports a low abundance Walleye population. The lake is stocked with Walleye fingerlings every other year and recent stocking attempts have seen poor survival. Currently most fish are between 14 and 22 inches. The Walleye that are in Rachel Lake grow fairly fast and can obtain large sizes. Fish up to 27 inches have been observed.
Rachel Lake is also unique in that it sustains a decent population of Tullibee. Tullibee catch rates were up slightly in 2018 and 2024 and fish up to 16 inches were observed.
At the time of the 2024 survey, Rachel Lake is not known to contain any invasive species. Recreational users should take necessary precautions to prevent the further spread of invasive species. Drain all water and remove all aquatic vegetation from your boat and trailer when leaving any body of water. Do not dispose of any unused bait in the lake. Updated information on invasive species infestations can be found on the MN DNR website.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Lake Rachel fishing reports
Recent reports on Lake Rachel 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
- Rachel Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Lake Rachel depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Blackwell Lake · 307 ac · 1.9 mi
- Pocket Lake · 263 ac · 1.9 mi
- Grant Lake · 177 ac · 2.1 mi
- Freeborn Lake · 248 ac · 2.9 mi
- Lake Oscar · 997 ac · 3.2 mi
- Mill Lake · 451 ac · 3.8 mi
- Lake Mary · 2,450 ac · 4.2 mi
- Grill Lake · 67 ac · 4.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Lake Rachel?
Lake Rachel reaches 65 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 30 ft; about 49% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Lake Rachel?
Lake Rachel covers 448 acres with about 6.3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Lake Rachel?
DNR Secchi readings on Lake Rachel average 7.7 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Lake Rachel?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Lake Rachel stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Lake Rachel have a public access?
Yes. Lake Rachel has one public access site: Rachel Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Lake Rachel?
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 1997.
When was Lake Rachel last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Lake Rachel in 2024, the most recent of 13 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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