Minnesota · Meeker County
Round Lake Fishing guide
Round Lake covers 266 acres in Meeker County, Minnesota, reaching 8 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 4.5 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 3 times, most recently in 2020, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets. That survey is 6 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeFair numbers3.2per gill net17"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 19 fish
Northern pikeOne of the best around18.2per gill net20"Typical31"Biggest
Lengths measured · 107 fish
No 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 Round Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth.
- Early summer
- Pike are on the outside weed edge and points.
- Summer
- Pike are on the deep weed edge and points near the coolest water they can find. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops. A 8-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
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 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 8-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.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Spinnerbait
3/8–1/2 oz safety-pin spinnerbait with tandem willow-leaf blades
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
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
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2020 survey
Round is a small Lake (266 acres) located near Litchfield, in Meeker County. A state owned access, with a cement boat ramp, is present on the west shore. Round has 2.36 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 8 feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Round is a class 43 lake and other similar lakes in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Hoff and Hope Lakes, both in Meeker County. Round Lake occasionally suffers partial winterkills and the fish population can fluctuate widely depending on severity and frequency of the latest event. A winter aeration system began operating in February 2021 to provide a refuge area for fish during harsh winters. Ice anglers, spearers and other outdoor winter enthusiasts need to be extra cautious because of open water and thin ice dangers.
Northern Pike anglers will usually find plenty of action at Round, but sizes tend to be small (average length of only 20 inches in 2020). A few nice sized pike were also present, with maximum length being 31 inches. Round is not a go to destination for Walleye, as numbers were on the low side in 2020, but if you do catch one, it will probably be nice (average length was 18 inches).
Read the full DNR narrative
Other species that anglers may encounter include Black Crappie, Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Bullhead, and Yellow Perch.
People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Over harvest, 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 DNR office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office. Thanks and good fishing!
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Round Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Round 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
- Round Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Round Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Ripley (west portion) Lake · 614 ac · 2.5 mi
- Manuella Lake · 293 ac · 3.3 mi
- Minnie-Belle Lake · 597 ac · 3.4 mi
- Stella Lake · 599 ac · 4.2 mi
- Star Lake · 553 ac · 5 mi
- Greenleaf Lake · 238 ac · 5 mi
- Willie Lake · 192 ac · 5.3 mi
- Richardson Lake · 119 ac · 6.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Round Lake?
Round Lake reaches 8 ft at its deepest point; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Round Lake?
Round Lake covers 266 acres with about 2.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Round Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Round Lake average 4.5 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Round Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2020) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Round Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Round Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Round Lake have a public access?
Yes. Round Lake has one public access site: Round Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Round Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 31".
When was Round Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Round Lake in 2020, the most recent of 3 surveys on record. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.
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