Minnesota · Renville County
Preston Lake Fishing guide
Preston Lake is a 655-acre lake in Renville County, Minnesota, reaching 11 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 2.2 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 13 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Fair numbers2.7per gill net22"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 32 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 32 fish
2025Lengths measured · 124 fish
2019Lengths measured · 136 fish
2015Lengths measured · 123 fish
2010Northern pikeJust a few2per gill net19"Typical32"Biggest
Lengths measured · 24 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 24 fish
2025Lengths measured · 44 fish
2019Lengths measured · 38 fish
2015Lengths measured · 17 fish
2010CrappieJust a few1.5per trap net6"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 19 fish
Recent · 2019Lengths measured · 19 fish
2019Lengths measured · 1 fish
2015Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 14 fish
2010Lengths measured · 50 fish
2005Yellow perchExcellent numbers19.3per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 231 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 231 fish
2025Lengths measured · 177 fish
2019Lengths measured · 16 fish
2015Lengths measured · 72 fish
2010No recent survey rating.
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 Preston Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 2.2 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 100% 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 11-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 2.2 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 100% 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 11-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 | 27" | 17" | 32" |
| 2019 | 26" | — | 32" |
| 2015 | 20" | — | 29" |
| 2010 | 17" | — | 25" |
| 2005 | 21" | 17" | 33" |
| 2000 | 23" | 10" | 32" |
| 1994 | 27" | 6" | 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 | 327,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 327,983 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 655,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 781,358 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 654,586 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Preston is a moderate-sized lake (655 acres) located northeast of the Town of Buffalo Lake in Renville County. A state-owned access with gravel parking and a single cement boat ramp is present along the west shore. There is a fishing pier present at the public access. Preston has approximately five miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of eleven feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Preston is a class 43 lake and other similar waterbodies in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Swan and Hook Lakes in McLeod County. Preston's 2020 lake management plan listed Walleye as the primary management species, while Black Crappie were a secondary management species. Preston occasionally suffers from partial winterkills, with the most recent event occurring in 2013. Fish populations can fluctuate widely depending on the severity of the latest winterkill event. A Walleye jaw tagging exploitation study was initiated in the spring of 2025 (see separate targeted survey report for more details) and anglers are encouraged to call the Hutchinson Area Fisheries Office (320-753-0339) if they catch a tagged Walleye from Preston. Summer gill netting was completed in 2025 to monitor the fish population and evaluate the 2022 Walleye fry stocking regime (500 Lower Mississippi strain fry per littoral acre - every other year). Curlyleaf pondweed, a submergent aquatic plant, can be abundant in May and June at Preston Lake.
Low numbers of Walleye were netted in 2025, but average size was impressive (almost 19 inches in length). The maximum length of Walleye sampled was a remarkable 27 inches. A notable 59 percent of the catch was 21 inches or longer and the oldest Walleye was age-13. Black Crappie were not netted in 2025. High numbers of Yellow Perch were collected, and some were keeper-sized. Approximately 15 percent of the catch was 8 inches or longer. Low numbers of Northern Pike were gill netted this year with fish averaging 20 inches in length. Maximum length of Northern Pike was a respectable 33 inches. Many of the pike that were captured were 24 inches or longer. Northern Pike regulations were revised at a statewide level beginning in 2018 to better accommodate regional differences in pike habitats, population abundances and size structures. Three management zones were established for Northern Pike, with their own bag limit and length limit restrictions. In the southern zone, where Preston Lake is found, anglers can keep two Northern Pike. The minimum size limit is 24 inches. All fish less than 24 inches must be immediately released. This zone regulation is meant to increase Northern Pike abundance and increase the size of harvested fish. The regulation will be evaluated after 2028. Additional fishes sampled in the 2025 gill nets included Black Bullhead, Bluegill, Common Carp, Largemouth Bass and White Sucker.
Read the full DNR narrative
People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Overharvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local MNDNR office. Additional information on all these topics can be found on the MNDNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Preston Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Preston 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
- Preston Lake (trailer launch)
- Preston Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Preston Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Allie Lake · 509 ac · 1.7 mi
- Round Grove Lake · 296 ac · 5.5 mi
- Marion Lake · 520 ac · 7.5 mi
- Otter Lake · 642 ac · 9.9 mi
- Clear Lake · 82 ac · 12.2 mi
- French Lake · 42 ac · 12.6 mi
- Hoff Lake · 139 ac · 13.1 mi
- Stahl's Lake · 141 ac · 13.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Preston Lake?
Preston Lake reaches 11 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 7 ft; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Preston Lake?
Preston Lake covers 655 acres with about 5.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Preston Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Preston Lake average 2.2 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Preston Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish.
Is Preston Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Preston Lake have a public access?
Yes. Preston Lake has 2 public access sites, including Preston Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Preston Lake?
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 1994.
When was Preston Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Preston Lake in 2025, the most recent of 13 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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