Minnesota · Todd County
Mill Lake Fishing guide
Mill Lake sits in Todd County, Minnesota, and covers 171 acres, reaching 18 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 7.6 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 14 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Good numbers5.7per gill net15"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 69 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 34 fish
2025Lengths measured · 35 fish
2023Lengths measured · 21 fish
2019Lengths measured · 5 fish
2019Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Largemouth bassGood numbers71.7per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical15"Biggest
Lengths measured · 116 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 95 fish
2025Lengths measured · 21 fish
2023Lengths measured · 113 fish
2019Lengths measured · 3 fish
2019Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
No recent survey rating.
Northern pikeJust a few4.8per gill net26"Typical38"Biggest
Lengths measured · 71 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 29 fish
2025Lengths measured · 42 fish
2023Lengths measured · 15 fish
2019Lengths measured · 23 fish
2013BluegillPresent5per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 147 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 30 fish
2025Lengths measured · 117 fish
2023Lengths measured · 916 fish
2019Lengths measured · 617 fish
2019CrappiePresent3per gill net7"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 459 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 18 fish
2025Lengths measured · 441 fish
2023Lengths measured · 161 fish
2019Lengths measured · 34 fish
2019Yellow perchFair numbers4.3per gill net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 35 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 25 fish
2025Lengths measured · 10 fish
2023Lengths measured · 25 fish
2019Lengths measured · 103 fish
2013Rates 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 Mill 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. With 73% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- 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.
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. With 73% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze. 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 | Largemouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24" | 15" | 38" |
| 2023 | 25" | 14" | 38" |
| 2019 | 22" | 18" | 37" |
| 2013 | 26" | 20" | 32" |
| 2007 | — | 10" | 36" |
| 2001 | — | 19" | 33" |
| 1995 | 13" | 17" | 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 · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
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
Spinnerbait
3/8–1/2 oz safety-pin spinnerbait with tandem willow-leaf blades
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 | 1,201 yearlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 4,250 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 761 fingerlings · 2 adults |
| 2019 | Walleye | 5,250 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 160 adults |
| 2016 | Walleye | 3,125 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Mill Lake is a 167-acre lake that is primarily managed for Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and Walleye and secondarily managed for Black Crappie and Bluegill. Walleye fingerlings are stocked biennially but age-2 fish were stocked in 2017 and 2025. The lake is located 9 miles southeast of Browerville and has relatively low residential development. The maximum depth is 18 feet and water clarity has been 10-11 feet during recent surveys. Mill lake has a variety of submerged, emergent, and floating-leaf vegetation along the shoreline. A standard survey was conducted during 2025 and included spring electrofishing and summer gill netting.
Northern Pike had a catch rate of 4.8 fish/net (total = 29), the highest recorded since 1995 (5.5 fish/net). Catch rates during the last four surveys have varied between 1.5-3.7 fish/net. During 2025, fish ranged in size from 17.8-38.9 inches (average = 15.7 inches) with 35% over 24 inches. This was a decline in size structure from 2019 (average = 26.9 inches; 93% over 24 inches) and 2013 (average = 27.8 inches; 82% over 24 inches). Mill has historically provided a notable Northern Pike fishery with fish over 30 inches regularly sampled. Due to the recent increase in pike abundance, anglers are encouraged to harvest fish that are less than 22 inches.
Read the full DNR narrative
The catch rate of Largemouth Bass while electrofishing was 71.7 fish/hour (total = 77). Numbers of bass have been declining over the years after hitting an all-time high during 2013 (157.7 fish/hour). During 2025, Largemouth Bass measured 3.3-14.5 inches (average = 10.0 inches). The population is predominantly made up of fish that are 6.5-8.9 inches and 11.0-14.5 inches, with a complete absence of fish over 15 inches. Mill Lake has been reported to winterkill on occasion, which may explain the decline in abundance and size structure.
Walleye had a catch rate of 5.7 fish/net (total = 34), which was a record high. The previous survey during 2019 had a catch rate of 2.8 fish/net and from 1995-2013 the catch was less than 0.5 fish/net. Walleye ranged in size from 10.0-24.1 inches (average = 15.7 inches) during 2025. Length frequency data indicated that multiple cohorts of stocked fish were present providing anglers with a variety of sizes. Fish were reaching 12.9 inches by age-2, 16.1 inches by age-4, 16.8 inches by age-6, 18.9 inches by age-8, and 23.5 inches by age-10. The recent increase in numbers should improve opportunities for anglers to harvest fish.
Gill netting resulted in the capture of 28 Bluegill and 18 Black Crappie. Bluegill were 3.8-9.8 inches (average = 6.5 inches), and Black crappie measured 5.6-10.6 inches (average = 9.0 inches). Bluegill and Black Crappie are generally abundant but slow growing.
Yellow Perch were caught at a rate of 4.3 fish/net. The relative abundance of Yellow Perch has continually declined since 1995 (34.5 fish/net), with 2019 (3.8 fish/net) having the lowest catch on record. Fish collected during 2025 measured 5.4-8.8 inches (average = 6.3 inches). Length frequency data show a notable reduction in the number of fish over 7 inches. This decline may be of concern as Yellow Perch are a source of forage for Northern Pike. However, Black Crappie have been abundant in prior surveys and may help to provide additional prey opportunities for Northern Pike.
Other species that were captured included Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, and Hybrid Sunfish.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Mill Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Mill 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
- Mill Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Mill Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Beauty Lake · 240 ac · 2.9 mi
- Coal Lake · 171 ac · 3 mi
- Thunder Lake · 214 ac · 5.6 mi
- Pine Island Lake · 238 ac · 5.6 mi
- Horseshoe Lake · 121 ac · 6.9 mi
- Little Swan Lake · 164 ac · 7.8 mi
- Big Lake · 297 ac · 7.9 mi
- Mons Lake · 95 ac · 7.9 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Mill Lake?
Mill Lake reaches 18 ft at its deepest point; about 73% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Mill Lake?
Mill Lake covers 171 acres with about 2.8 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Mill Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Mill Lake average 7.6 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Mill Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Mill Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Mill Lake have a public access?
Yes. Mill Lake has one public access site: Mill Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Mill Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 25"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1995.
When was Mill Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Mill Lake in 2025, the most recent of 14 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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