Minnesota · Le Sueur County
Tetonka Lake Fishing guide
Tetonka Lake covers 1,358 acres in Le Sueur County, Minnesota, reaching 35 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 4.8 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 19 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Good numbers4.8per gill net17"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 82 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 35 fish
2025Lengths measured · 72 fish
2023Lengths measured · 225 fish
2023Lengths measured · 54 fish
2022Largemouth bassJust a few11.2per hr (electrofishing)14"Typical20"Biggest
Lengths measured · 12 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 8 fish
2023Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 4 fish
2021Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 106 fish
2017Lengths measured · 79 fish
2016Northern pikeFair numbers6.6per gill net26"Typical33"Biggest
Lengths measured · 99 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 91 fish
2023Lengths measured · 8 fish
2021Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 20 fish
2020Lengths measured · 37 fish
2017BluegillJust a few12.2per trap net4"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 288 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 121 fish
2023Lengths measured · 167 fish
2021Lengths measured · 70 fish
2020Lengths measured · 89 fish
2017CrappieJust a few4.3per trap net8"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 131 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 87 fish
2023Lengths measured · 44 fish
2021Lengths measured · 93 fish
2020Lengths measured · 43 fish
2017Yellow perchFair numbers1.2per gill net7"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 12 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 9 fish
2023Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 3 fish
2021Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 494 fish
2020Lengths measured · 65 fish
2017No 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 Tetonka Lake through the year
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.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
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.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
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 | Northern pike | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10" | — | — |
| 2023 | 26" | 32" | 15" |
| 2022 | 7" | — | — |
| 2021 | 19" | 33" | 20" |
| 2020 | 27" | 33" | — |
| 2017 | 26" | 32" | 20" |
| 2016 | — | — | 18" |
| 2014 | 25" | 33" | 19" |
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
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
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.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 245,537 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 137,000 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 137,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 274,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 274,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 274,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 274,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 823,400 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A survey targeting age-0 Walleye was conducted at Tetonka Lake on 29 October 2025 using 1 hour 30 minutes of standard boat electrofishing. A total of 35 age-0 Walleyes were sampled for a catch rate of 23.3/hour on-time. Catch rates during fry-stocked years (n = 15) have averaged 57.7/hour on-time while non-stocked years (n = 7) have averaged 64.9/hour on-time. The mean length in 2025 was 8.1 inches. The robust catch rates during non-stocked years suggests natural reproduction plays an important role in Walleye recruitment in Tetonka Lake.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Tetonka Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Tetonka 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
- Tetonka Lake (trailer launch)
- Tetonka Lagoon Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
- Tetonka Lake Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Tetonka Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Upper Sakatah Lake · 892 ac · 2.8 mi
- Fish Lake · 77 ac · 3 mi
- Reeds Lake · 195 ac · 3 mi
- Lily Lake · 114 ac · 3 mi
- Rays Lake · 169 ac · 3.8 mi
- Sunfish Lake · 121 ac · 4.1 mi
- Horseshoe Lake · 417 ac · 4.6 mi
- Steele Lake · 76 ac · 4.6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Tetonka Lake?
Tetonka Lake reaches 35 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 19 ft; about 40% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Tetonka Lake?
Tetonka Lake covers 1,358 acres with about 11.6 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Tetonka Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Tetonka Lake average 4.8 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Tetonka Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish, white bass.
Is Tetonka Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Tetonka Lake have a public access?
Yes. Tetonka Lake has 3 public access sites, including Tetonka Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Tetonka 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 2014.
When was Tetonka Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Tetonka Lake in 2025, the most recent of 19 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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