Minnesota · Lyon County
Rock Lake Fishing guide
Rock Lake is a 379-acre lake in Lyon County, Minnesota, reaching 7.9 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 2.5 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 16 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, northern pike, bluegill and crappie in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Excellent numbers9.3per gill net17"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 51 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 66 fish
2025Lengths measured · 51 fish
2022Lengths measured · 209 fish
2021Lengths measured · 47 fish
2019No recent survey rating.
No recent survey rating.
CrappieJust a few3.2per trap net10"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 29 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 29 fish
2022Lengths measured · 38 fish
2018Lengths measured · 14 fish
2010Lengths measured · 34 fish
2006Yellow perchGood numbers8.7per gill net8"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 30 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 30 fish
2022Lengths measured · 72 fish
2018Lengths measured · 52 fish
2014Lengths measured · 107 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 Rock Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 2.5 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 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 7.9-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Yellow perch
- Spring
- Perch are draping eggs over flooded cover and weed stems on the shallow flats. In 2.5 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Perch are spread over sand-grass flats and the first weed edges in loose packs.
- Summer
- Perch are over deeper soft-bottom flats and the basin, on the bottom and in schools. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Perch are roaming the mid-depth flats in loose schools, chasing young-of-year bait while it is still shallow. A 7.9-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 | Yellow perch | Crappie |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7" | — | — |
| 2022 | 28" | 9" | 12" |
| 2021 | 7" | — | — |
| 2019 | 10" | — | — |
| 2018 | 26" | 11" | 9" |
| 2016 | 7" | — | — |
| 2014 | 26" | 10" | — |
| 2010 | 23" | 12" | 12" |
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
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
Yellow perch · Live bait
Clip-On Bobber + Worm
half to whole garden nightcrawler
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Tungsten Jig + Micro Plastic
1–1.5" micro plastic
Crappie · Jigs & bladed
Beetle Spin
1.5–2" curly-tail grub trailer on a small in-line spinner jighead
Crappie · Soft plastics
Tungsten Jig + Micro Plastic
1–1.5" micro plastic
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 | 219,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 211,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 211,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 211,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 422,793 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Rock Lake is a 439-acre, class 43 lake, located approximately 3 miles south of the City of Russell in Lyon County. Rock Lake is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Yellow Perch. Lower Mississippi Strain Walleye were stocked in Rock Lake in 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2024. Walleye were not stocked in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so Walleye were stocked in 2021 despite being an "off" year. A Walleye fry stocking evaluation using daytime electrofishing was conducted on September 11, 2025 to determine if natural reproduction of Walleye occurred during a non-stocked year in Rock Lake.
Young-of-the-year (YOY) Walleye were captured at a rate of 132.0 per hour, which indicates that natural reproduction occurred in Rock Lake. Walleye fingerlings were 5.2 to 7. inches in length and averaged 5.4 inches. Assuming survival to Spring of 2026, the 2021 year class should be a strong year class in the Rock Lake Walleye population.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Rock Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Rock 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
- Rock Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Rock Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- McKay Lake · 167 ac · 2 mi
- Clear Lake · 66 ac · 3.7 mi
- Yankton Lake · 403 ac · 4 mi
- Brawner Lake · 30 ac · 4.2 mi
- East Twin Lake · 357 ac · 6.6 mi
- Wood Lake · 373 ac · 7.1 mi
- Currant Lake · 406 ac · 7.6 mi
- West Twin Lake · 220 ac · 7.6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Rock Lake?
Rock Lake reaches 7.9 ft at its deepest point; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Rock Lake?
Rock Lake covers 379 acres with about 3.9 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Rock Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Rock Lake average 2.5 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Rock Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish.
Is Rock Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Rock Lake have a public access?
Yes. Rock Lake has one public access site: Rock Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Rock Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 28"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2010.
When was Rock Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Rock Lake in 2025, the most recent of 16 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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