Minnesota · Cottonwood County
Talcot Lake Fishing guide
Talcot Lake is a 873-acre lake in Cottonwood County, Minnesota, reaching 6 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 0.6 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 20 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeOne of the best around23per gill net13"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 151 fish
Recent · 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 80 fish
2025Lengths measured · 1 fish
2025Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 71 fish
2024Lengths measured · 45 fish
2021Northern pikeLast stocked 2023Just a few1.7per gill net20"Typical30"Biggest
Lengths measured · 21 fish
Recent · 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 16 fish
2025Lengths measured · 5 fish
2024Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 6 fish
2020Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 8 fish
2016Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
CrappieJust a few2.6per trap net9"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 64 fish
Recent · 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 54 fish
2025Lengths measured · 10 fish
2024Lengths measured · 72 fish
2020Lengths measured · 22 fish
2016Yellow perchGood numbers6.7per gill net9"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 31 fish
Recent · 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 8 fish
2025Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 23 fish
2024Lengths measured · 10 fish
2020Lengths measured · 94 fish
2016Channel catfishOne of the best around14per gill net10"Typical23"Biggest
Lengths measured · 43 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 43 fish
2024Lengths measured · 12 fish
2020Lengths measured · 15 fish
2016Lengths measured · 36 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 Talcot Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 0.6 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 6-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 0.6 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 6-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 | 25" | — | 30" |
| 2024 | 26" | 15" | 25" |
| 2021 | 8" | — | — |
| 2020 | 27" | 14" | 32" |
| 2017 | 8" | — | — |
| 2016 | 23" | — | 32" |
| 2014 | 19" | — | 26" |
| 2010 | 24" | — | 10" |
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 · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
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
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Northern Pike | 1,673 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Talcot Lake, was conducted on June 16th-18th, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 14 sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample 14 stations. Nearshore sampling captured 21 species of fish including one species that is intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Iowa Darter) and five species that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Fathead Minnow, Green Sunfish, and Orangespotted Sunfish).
A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by LBMA Program Staff. Twelve trap nets were set along the shoreline and in shallow offshore locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured 11 species of fish, including none that are intolerant of disturbance and three that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, and Common Carp). Black Bullhead and Quillback comprised majority of the trap net catch by number and Quillback and Bigmouth Buffalo comprised a majority by biomass.
Read the full DNR narrative
The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from a July 2024 survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Iowa Darter), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead and Fathead Minnow). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Talcot Lake is adversely impacted by stressors, as indicated by an FIBI score near the general use impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to previous findings, which indicate that Talcot Lake is impaired for biological health. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Des Moines River - Headwaters watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Talcot Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Talcot Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Talcot 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
- Talcot Lake (trailer launch)
- Des Moines River, Talc (carry-in)
DNR bathymetry
Talcot Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Kinbrae Lake · 98 ac · 3.9 mi
- East Graham Lake · 511 ac · 6.2 mi
- West Graham Lake · 519 ac · 6.3 mi
- First Fulda Lake · 123 ac · 7.6 mi
- Louisa Lake · 230 ac · 8.4 mi
- Lime Lake · 326 ac · 11.7 mi
- Double Lake · 240 ac · 12.5 mi
- Timber Lake · 191 ac · 12.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Talcot Lake?
Talcot Lake reaches 6 ft at its deepest point; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Talcot Lake?
Talcot Lake covers 873 acres with about 8.5 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Talcot Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Talcot Lake average 0.6 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Talcot Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish.
Is Talcot Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked northern pike in 2023.
Does Talcot Lake have a public access?
Yes. Talcot Lake has 2 public access sites, including Talcot Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Talcot Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 26"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2010.
When was Talcot Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Talcot Lake in 2025, the most recent of 20 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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