Minnesota · Meeker County
Thompson Lake Fishing guide
Thompson Lake sits in Meeker County, Minnesota, and covers 226 acres, reaching 8 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 1.5 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 6 times, most recently in 2013, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets. That survey is 13 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
No recent survey rating.
No recent survey rating.
No recent survey rating.
No recent survey rating.
Yellow perchOne of the best around110per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 307 fish
Recent · 2013Lengths measured · 307 fish
2013Lengths measured · 58 fish
1995Lengths measured · 48 fish
1994Lengths measured · 2 fish
1993Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
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 Thompson Lake through the year
Yellow perch
- Spring
- Perch are draping eggs over flooded cover and weed stems on the shallow flats. In 1.5 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 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. In 1.5 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 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.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Yellow perch | Walleye | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 9" | — | — |
| 1995 | 10" | — | 17" |
| 1994 | 8" | — | 10" |
| 1993 | 4" | — | 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:
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Tungsten Jig + Micro Plastic
1–1.5" micro plastic
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
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 2013 survey
A population assessment was conducted at Thompson Lake in 2013 to monitor the fish community. Prior to the assessment, the lake was primarily managed for Walleye and to a lesser extent for Northern Pike and Yellow Perch. Beginning in 2014, Thompson Lake will be managed as a Walleye rearing pond.
A total of 220 Yellow Perch were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 110.0/net, which indicated high numbers were present. Historically, catch rates have varied from 0/net to 110.0/net with a average of 34.5/net. In 2013, lengths ranged from 5.5 to 9.4 inches with an average of 7.0 inches. A total of 88 Yellow Perch ranging from 4.8 to 8.9 inches were sampled with trap nets for a catch rate of 11.0/net. Fish from both gears ranged from 1 to 2 years old with 2 year-classes present.
Read the full DNR narrative
A total of 763 Black Bullheads ranging from 4.9 to 13.1 inches long were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 381.5/net, which indicated high numbers were present. Historically, catch rates have varied from 6.0/net to 381.5/net with an average of 115.2/net. An additional 251 Black Bullheads were sampled with trap nets for a catch rate of 31.4/net. Black Bullhead numbers remain a large part of Thompson Lake's winterkill-influenced fish community.
A total of 25 Common Carp ranging from 12.4 to 24.8 inches long were sampled with trap nets for a catch rate of 3.1/net, which indicated moderate numbers were present. Historically, catch rates have varied from 0.2/net 58.8/net with an average of 10.9/net. An additional 3 Common Carp ranging from 12.8 to 20.0 inches long were sampled with gill nets.
Other species sampled in 2013 include Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, and hybrid sunfish (Lepomis spp.)
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Thompson Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Thompson 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
- Thompson Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Thompson Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Lillian Lake · 1,151 ac · 7.5 mi
- Elizabeth (Main Lake) · 1,024 ac · 9.2 mi
- Carrie Lake · 89 ac · 10.1 mi
- Hope Lake · 274 ac · 10.3 mi
- Star Lake · 553 ac · 10.3 mi
- Ella Lake · 153 ac · 10.5 mi
- Hoff Lake · 139 ac · 10.6 mi
- Minnie-Belle Lake · 597 ac · 11.6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Thompson Lake?
Thompson Lake reaches 8 ft at its deepest point; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Thompson Lake?
Thompson Lake covers 226 acres with about 2.9 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Thompson Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Thompson Lake average 1.5 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Thompson Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2013) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, yellow perch.
Is Thompson Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Thompson Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Thompson Lake have a public access?
Yes. Thompson Lake has one public access site: Thompson Lake (trailer launch).
How big do yellow perch get in Thompson Lake?
The biggest yellow perch measured in recent DNR surveys taped 9"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1993.
When was Thompson Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Thompson Lake in 2013, the most recent of 6 surveys on record. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.
Page updated .
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