Minnesota · Wright County
Mary Lake Fishing guide
Mary Lake is a 190-acre lake in Wright County, Minnesota, reaching 46 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 6.3 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 9 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers3per gill net20"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 21 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 21 fish
2024Lengths measured · 26 fish
2017Lengths measured · 36 fish
2011Lengths measured · 20 fish
2001Largemouth bassJust a few18.2per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 22 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 22 fish
2024Lengths measured · 137 fish
2017Lengths measured · 96 fish
2011Lengths measured · 11 fish
2001Northern pikeJust a few3.3per gill net26"Typical37"Biggest
Lengths measured · 22 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 22 fish
2024Lengths measured · 12 fish
2017Lengths measured · 14 fish
2011Lengths measured · 6 fish
2001Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
BluegillJust a few22.1per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 331 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 331 fish
2024Lengths measured · 518 fish
2017Lengths measured · 380 fish
2011Lengths measured · 302 fish
2001CrappieJust a few1.4per trap net7"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 71 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 71 fish
2024Lengths measured · 103 fish
2017Lengths measured · 72 fish
2011Lengths measured · 21 fish
2001Yellow perchFair numbers4.2per gill net6"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 26 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 26 fish
2024Lengths measured · 8 fish
2017Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 88 fish
2011Lengths measured · 3 fish
2001Only 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 Mary Lake 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 46 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 46 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 | 26" | 26" | 37" |
| 2017 | 27" | 19" | 36" |
| 2011 | 27" | 18" | 28" |
| 2001 | 25" | 14" | 31" |
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 · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
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 | 2,000 yearlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Mary Lake was conducted beginning on July 22nd, 2024, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at 10 sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample 7 stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at 3 stations. Nearshore sampling captured 11 species of fish including two species that are intolerant of disturbance (Iowa Darter and Least Darter) and one that is tolerant of disturbance (Green Sunfish).
A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by IBI Program staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured 12 species of fish, two considered to be tolerant of disturbance (Green Sunfish and Common Carp). Bluegill and Pumpkinseed comprised a majority of the catch by number and the majority by biomass.
Read the full DNR narrative
A concurrent summer gill net survey was conducted on July 22nd to July 25th, 2024, by IBI Program Staff. Six gill nets were set in offshore locations that encompassed deeper littoral habitat. Black Crappie and Bluegill comprised a majority of the gill net catch by number, and Northern Pike, Walleye, and Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by biomass. The number of Northern Pike sampled per net (3.3 /net) was near the 50% quartile for Lake Class 24 lakes (3.7/net) with an average length of 26.8 inches; and the number of Walleye sampled per net (3.0 /net) was above the 50% quartile for Lake Class 24 lakes (2.8/net) with an average length of 19.9 inches.
Data from all gears were combined 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., Iowa Darter), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish and Common Carp). 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. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Mary Lake is adversely impacted by stressors, as indicated by an FIBI score below the general use impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. The survey results were consistant with previous assessments and will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the North Fork Crow River watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Mary Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Mary Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Mary Lake 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
- Public access: The Winsted Sportsman's Club owns and maintains a public access on the southeast side of the lake off Grunwald Ave SW.
DNR bathymetry
Mary Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Dog Lake · 97 ac · 1 mi
- Ida Lake · 85 ac · 1.6 mi
- Emma Lake · 189 ac · 1.7 mi
- Ann Lake · 375 ac · 2.4 mi
- Winsted Lake · 382 ac · 2.5 mi
- Dutch Lake · 162 ac · 4.3 mi
- Little Waverly Lake · 338 ac · 5.3 mi
- Howard Lake · 745 ac · 5.6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Mary Lake?
Mary Lake reaches 46 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 17.8 ft; about 45% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Mary Lake?
Mary Lake covers 190 acres with about 2.3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Mary Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Mary Lake average 6.3 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Mary Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Mary Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025.
Does Mary Lake have a public access?
Yes. Mary Lake has one public access site: Public access (The Winsted Sportsman's Club owns and maintains a public access on the southeast side of the lake off Grunwald Ave SW.).
How big do walleye get in Mary Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 26"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2001.
When was Mary Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Mary Lake in 2024, the most recent of 9 surveys on record.
Page updated .
Featured guide spot
Your guide service here
One featured guide per lake, with your photo, your writeup and a link straight to your booking page. Free through December 31, 2026.
Then $20 a month from January. Cancel any time.
The live map adds today's conditions and ranked spots for Mary Lake, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open Mary Lake on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report