Minnesota · Rice County
Roberds Lake Fishing guide
Roberds Lake sits in Rice County, Minnesota, and covers 632 acres, reaching 43 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 5.1 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 15 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and muskellunge in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Fair numbers1.4per gill net14"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 12 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 1 fish
2025Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 12 fish
2023Lengths measured · 2 fish
2022Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 22 fish
2021Largemouth bassGood numbers59.9per hr (electrofishing)10"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 54 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 54 fish
2023Lengths measured · 7 fish
2020Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 93 fish
2017Lengths measured · 24 fish
2013Northern pikeJust a few4per gill net24"Typical32"Biggest
Lengths measured · 39 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 39 fish
2023Lengths measured · 34 fish
2020Lengths measured · 14 fish
2017Lengths measured · 66 fish
2013Last recorded in the 2020 survey and not seen since.
BluegillJust a few9per trap net6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 108 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 108 fish
2023Lengths measured · 35 fish
2020Lengths measured · 96 fish
2017Lengths measured · 109 fish
2013CrappieJust a few2.4per trap net6"Typical14"Biggest
Lengths measured · 96 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 96 fish
2023Lengths measured · 18 fish
2020Lengths measured · 70 fish
2017Lengths measured · 303 fish
2013Yellow perchGood numbers6per gill net8"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 49 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 49 fish
2023Lengths measured · 23 fish
2020Lengths measured · 120 fish
2017Lengths measured · 99 fish
2013Channel catfishExcellent numbers1per trap net26"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 14 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 14 fish
2023Lengths measured · 20 fish
2020Lengths measured · 57 fish
2017Lengths measured · 12 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 Roberds Lake 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.
- 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 43 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.
- 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 43 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | 9" | — |
| 2023 | 18" | 25" | 32" |
| 2022 | — | 8" | — |
| 2021 | — | 8" | — |
| 2020 | 17" | 21" | 32" |
| 2017 | 18" | 16" | 41" |
| 2013 | 20" | 23" | 36" |
| 2008 | 19" | 24" | 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
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
Walleye · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
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 | 196,154 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 393,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 393,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 393,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 4,618 yearlings · 103 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A survey targeting age-0 Walleye was conducted at Roberds Lake on 24 September 2025 using 60 minutes of standard boat electrofishing. One age-0 Walleye was sampled for a catch rate of 1.0/hour on-time. Catch rates have averaged 4.4/hour on-time during 9 surveys since 2017. During that period non-stocked years (n = 5) yielded 1 age-0 Walleye. Past Walleye management has failed to produce a significant catch (> 4.0/net) in survey gill nets despite almost annual heavy stocking of fingerling and mixed-age adult Walleyes. The management strategy switched in 2018 to fry stocking during even years (except in 2020 due to COVID which was made up in 2021). The 2021 and 2024 catch rates offer some hope, albeit limited, that fry stocking could produce what previous stocking strategies haven't in Roberds Lake.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Roberds Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Roberds 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
- Roberds Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Roberds Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Kelly & Dudley Lake · 128 ac · 2.1 mi
- French Lake · 876 ac · 2.3 mi
- Wells Lake · 678 ac · 2.7 mi
- Mazaska Lake · 688 ac · 3.8 mi
- Fox Lake · 312 ac · 4.8 mi
- Cedar Lake · 902 ac · 4.9 mi
- Hunt Lake · 176 ac · 4.9 mi
- Cannon Lake · 1,593 ac · 4.9 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Roberds Lake?
Roberds Lake reaches 43 ft at its deepest point; about 62% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Roberds Lake?
Roberds Lake covers 632 acres with about 5.6 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Roberds Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Roberds Lake average 5.1 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Roberds Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish, white bass.
Is Roberds Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Roberds Lake have a public access?
Yes. Roberds Lake has one public access site: Roberds Lake (trailer launch).
How big do largemouth bass get in Roberds Lake?
The biggest largemouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 18"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2008.
When was Roberds Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Roberds Lake in 2025, the most recent of 15 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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