Minnesota · Douglas County
Lake Victoria Fishing guide
Lake Victoria covers 417 acres in Douglas County, Minnesota, reaching 60 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 12.2 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 14 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers1.2per gill net16"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 18 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 11 fish
2024Lengths measured · 4 fish
2022Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 3 fish
2021Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 26 fish
2020Largemouth bassGood numbers80.9per hr (electrofishing)9"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 196 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 178 fish
2024Lengths measured · 4 fish
2022Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 14 fish
2021Lengths measured · 14 fish
2020Northern pikeFair numbers6per gill net24"Typical35"Biggest
Lengths measured · 59 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 54 fish
2024Lengths measured · 2 fish
2022Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 3 fish
2021Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 109 fish
2020BluegillFair numbers34.5per trap net5"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 1213 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 604 fish
2024Lengths measured · 253 fish
2022Lengths measured · 356 fish
2021Lengths measured · 458 fish
2020CrappieJust a few0.7per trap net9"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 24 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 7 fish
2024Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 10 fish
2022Lengths measured · 7 fish
2021Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 25 fish
2020Yellow perchLast stocked 2020Good numbers11.3per gill net6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 138 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 119 fish
2024Lengths measured · 12 fish
2022Lengths measured · 7 fish
2021Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 33 fish
2020Rock bassExcellent numbers3.3per gill net7"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 56 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 34 fish
2024Lengths measured · 8 fish
2022Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 14 fish
2021Lengths measured · 62 fish
2020Rates 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 Victoria through the year
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. At 12.2 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 60 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.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 12.2 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 60 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.
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 | Largemouth bass | Walleye | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 17" | 22" | 35" |
| 2022 | 14" | 26" | 32" |
| 2021 | 16" | 25" | 21" |
| 2020 | 16" | 26" | 31" |
| 2016 | 18" | 25" | 30" |
| 2012 | 19" | 22" | 28" |
| 2008 | 17" | 27" | 33" |
| 2004 | 15" | 25" | 32" |
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:
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
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
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 | 2,773 fingerlings · 178 yearlings · 28 adults |
| 2024 | Walleye | 1,310 fingerlings · 2,351 yearlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 6,923 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 4,238 fingerlings · 1,310 yearlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 1,685 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 4,847 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Yellow Perch | 480 adults |
| 2019 | Walleye | 6,454 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 2,068 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Yellow Perch | 800 adults |
| 2017 | Walleye | 4,150 fingerlings · 328 yearlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 1,345 fingerlings · 13 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Lake Victoria is a 419 acre basin located on the eastern city limits of Alexandria. Connections exist to Geneva and Jessie lakes, but shallow water may prohibit larger boats from navigating through these channels. A public access is located on the south shore off of County Road 23. A handicapped-accessible public fishing pier is located adjacent to the public access. This is a popular fishing pier due to a sharp drop off and greater depth under the pier. The shoreline of Lake Victoria is highly developed and largely bluff. The lake bottom is also steeply sloped, resulting in rapid drop-offs close to shore and limited shallow water habitat. The unique shape of this basin (i.e., a narrow horseshoe) makes it less susceptible to wave action and is often utilized as a calm retreat by both anglers and recreational boaters on windy days. While Lake Victoria is typically more turbid than the rest of the lakes in the Alexandria Chain, water quality and clarity are considered good. Water transparency readings often exceed 9.0 feet during summer months.
Lake Victoria supports abundant populations of Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill and Black Crappie. The Walleye fishery is supplemented with combined fingerling stockings of the DNR and private user groups. Unfortunately, survival of these stocked Walleye following establishment of zebra mussels has declined. Despite consistently high Walleye fingerling stocking over the last 20 years, Walleye gill net catch rates continue to decline across the Alexandria Chain of Lakes and were recorded at 1.1 fish/net in Lake Victoria during the 2024 survey. Clearer water tends to favor bass and panfish populations and Lake Victoria continues to provide ample fishing opportunities for those species. Bluegill abundance is high and a lot of fish over 7 inches were caught in the survey with several fish observed over 9 inches. Catch rates of Black Crappie were low during the survey, but this species often moves off-shore in late summer and are less vulnerable to capture in survey nets. Largemouth Bass catch rates were high. A lot of the bass caught during the survey were smaller. Look for average size of Largemouth Bass to improve in coming years. Northern Pike abundance has declined to more moderate levels, following higher catch rates in 2016 and 2020. Average size of Northern Pike has been improving in recent years, with many fish over 30 inches observed in this survey. Yellow Perch catch rates remain low, but did increase slightly from the past few surveys. Lower abundance of Walleye and Northern Pike have likely relieved predation pressure on Yellow Perch and allowed that population to expand. Yellow Perch growth rates were slow, but several 8 year old fish were approaching 10 inches.
Read the full DNR narrative
Quality fishing opportunities exist for many species in Lake Victoria. Anglers are encouraged to practice selective harvest to help improve and sustain quality fishing experiences. Selective harvest encourages release of larger fish while encouraging harvest of more abundant smaller fish. Releasing medium to large fish will help restore and maintain fish community balance, as well as increase opportunities to catch large fish in the future.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Lake Victoria fishing reports
Recent reports on Lake Victoria 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
- Victoria Lake (trailer launch)
- Victoria Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Lake Victoria depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Lake Jessie · 110 ac · 1.4 mi
- Lake Geneva · 640 ac · 1.8 mi
- Lake Burgan · 174 ac · 1.9 mi
- Lake Agnes · 138 ac · 2.4 mi
- Lake Henry · 152 ac · 2.8 mi
- Lake Winona · 213 ac · 3 mi
- Lake Le Homme Dieu · 1,801 ac · 3.7 mi
- Union Lake · 107 ac · 4 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Lake Victoria?
Lake Victoria reaches 60 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 32 ft; about 31% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Lake Victoria?
Lake Victoria covers 417 acres with about 6.5 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Lake Victoria?
DNR Secchi readings on Lake Victoria average 12.2 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Lake Victoria?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Lake Victoria stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Lake Victoria have a public access?
Yes. Lake Victoria has 2 public access sites, including Victoria Lake (trailer launch).
How big do largemouth bass get in Lake Victoria?
The biggest largemouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 17"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2004.
When was Lake Victoria last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Lake Victoria in 2024, the most recent of 14 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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