Minnesota · Nobles County
Okabena Lake Fishing guide
Okabena Lake sits in Nobles County, Minnesota, and covers 776 acres, reaching 16 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 1.5 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 21 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024One of the best around16.7per gill net15"Typical24"Biggest
Lengths measured · 129 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 18 fish
2025Lengths measured · 99 fish
2022Lengths measured · 30 fish
2021Lengths measured · 155 fish
2021Northern pikeJust a few0.7per gill net26"Typical33"Biggest
Lengths measured · 16 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 13 fish
2022Lengths measured · 3 fish
2021Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 4 fish
2018Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 6 fish
2014Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
BluegillJust a few3.1per trap net7"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 75 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 12 fish
2022Lengths measured · 63 fish
2021Lengths measured · 16 fish
2018Lengths measured · 5 fish
2014Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
CrappieFair numbers15.2per trap net8"Typical15"Biggest
Lengths measured · 365 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 30 fish
2022Lengths measured · 335 fish
2021Lengths measured · 182 fish
2018Lengths measured · 463 fish
2014Yellow perchLast stocked 2024Fair numbers4per gill net9"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 18 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 12 fish
2022Lengths measured · 6 fish
2021Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 32 fish
2018Lengths measured · 100 fish
2014Channel catfishGood numbers0.7per trap net22"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 24 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 13 fish
2022Lengths measured · 11 fish
2021Lengths measured · 58 fish
2018Lengths measured · 83 fish
2014Rates 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 Okabena Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 1.5 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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 97% 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 16-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. In 1.5 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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 97% 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 16-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 | 9" | — | — |
| 2022 | 24" | 11" | 32" |
| 2021 | 24" | 12" | 33" |
| 2019 | 14" | — | — |
| 2018 | 18" | — | 34" |
| 2014 | 28" | — | 25" |
| 2010 | 23" | 4" | 25" |
| 2008 | 25" | 20" | 30" |
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 · Jigs & bladed
Skirted Casting Jig + Craw Trailer
3.5–4" craw-style trailer on a skirted casting/flipping jig
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | 375,500 fry |
| 2024 | Yellow Perch | 168 adults |
| 2023 | Walleye | 188,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 376,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 376,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 376,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 376,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 751,461 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Okabena Lake is a 776-acre lake, located in Nobles County in the City of Worthington. Okabena Lake is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Yellow Perch, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill and Crappie. Lower Mississippi Strain (LMS) Walleye fry has been stocked in Okabena Lake periodically since the spring of 2018, but were not stocked in 2025. Lake Okabena has areas of spawning habitat and has shown sporadic natural reproduction, thus LMS Walleye have been stocked because anecdotal evidence suggests that they may have a survival advantage and natural reproduction potential in southern Minnesota lakes. Sexually mature LMS Walleye from initial stockings should be present, thus a natural reproduction check using nighttime electrofishing was conducted on November 3, 2025 to determine if Walleye naturally reproduced in this system.
Young-of-the year Walleye were captured at a rate of 15.8 per hour electrofishing, which indicates that some natural reproduction occurred, but it may not be a strong year class. Analysis of fall electrofishing data by DNR staff indicated that a catch rate greater than 5 per hour can result in a successful year class and greater than 25 per hour often produces a year class. Therefore, potential exists for Okabena Lake. Lengths of Walleye ranged from 8.2 to 9.7 inches and averaged 9.0 inches. Fin clips from those Age 0 Walleye indicate that predominate ancestry indicates 60% Lower Mississippi River Genetic while 16% ancestry points to Spicer Strain. Either way, over 75% of the composition points to southern strain Walleye genetics from the natural reproduction documented on Okabena Lake. The current management plan prescribes stocking Walleye fry every other year; thus, Walleye fry will be stocked in 2026 and 2028.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Okabena Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Okabena 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
- Okabena Lake (E) (trailer launch)
- Okabena Lake (N) (trailer launch)
- Okabena Lake (S) (trailer launch)
- Okabena Lake (W) (trailer launch)
- Okabena Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Okabena Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Ocheda Lake · 1,691 ac · 3.1 mi
- Bella Lake · 180 ac · 6.9 mi
- Indian Lake · 197 ac · 9.3 mi
- Round Lake · 930 ac · 10 mi
- West Graham Lake · 519 ac · 14.2 mi
- East Graham Lake · 511 ac · 14.4 mi
- Kinbrae Lake · 98 ac · 16.6 mi
- First Fulda Lake · 123 ac · 16.9 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Okabena Lake?
Okabena Lake reaches 16 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 8 ft; about 97% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Okabena Lake?
Okabena Lake covers 776 acres with about 6.5 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Okabena Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Okabena Lake average 1.5 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Okabena Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish.
Is Okabena Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye and yellow perch in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Okabena Lake have a public access?
Yes. Okabena Lake has 5 public access sites, including Okabena Lake (E) (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Okabena Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 24"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2008.
When was Okabena Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Okabena Lake in 2025, the most recent of 21 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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