Minnesota · Le Sueur County
Volney Lake Fishing guide
Volney Lake covers 269 acres in Le Sueur County, Minnesota, reaching 67 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 12.7 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 15 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers1.7per gill net22"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 22 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 9 fish
2025Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 13 fish
2022Lengths measured · 14 fish
2019Lengths measured · 13 fish
2014Northern pikeLast stocked 2025Just a few3.1per gill net27"Typical39"Biggest
Lengths measured · 38 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 12 fish
2025Lengths measured · 26 fish
2022Lengths measured · 32 fish
2019Lengths measured · 9 fish
2014Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
BluegillFair numbers27per trap net7"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 307 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 224 fish
2025Lengths measured · 83 fish
2022Lengths measured · 80 fish
2019Lengths measured · 104 fish
2014CrappieFair numbers18.5per trap net6"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 374 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 197 fish
2025Lengths measured · 177 fish
2022Lengths measured · 161 fish
2019Lengths measured · 693 fish
2014Yellow perchGood numbers9.7per gill net7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 117 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 52 fish
2025Lengths measured · 65 fish
2022Lengths measured · 72 fish
2019Lengths measured · 58 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 Volney Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 12.7 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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. On a lake that drops to 67 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. At 12.7 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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. On a lake that drops to 67 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
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" | 16" | 36" |
| 2022 | 25" | 20" | 39" |
| 2019 | 25" | 20" | 30" |
| 2016 | — | 17" | — |
| 2014 | 20" | — | 35" |
| 2008 | 19" | — | 31" |
| 2004 | 27" | — | 32" |
| 1999 | 18" | — | 30" |
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
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
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
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 | Northern Pike | 3,178 |
| 2025 | Walleye | 32,500 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 32,500 fry |
| 2023 | Northern Pike | 32,895 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 32,500 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 65,000 fry |
| 2021 | Northern Pike | 16,500 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 65,000 fry |
| 2019 | Northern Pike | 32,500 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 65,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 65,000 fry |
| 2017 | Northern Pike | 32,500 fry |
Stocking records before 2017 omitted.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Lake Volney is a 283-acre lake located approximately 3 miles southeast of the town of Le Center in Le Sueur County. It is one of the deepest lakes in the Waterville Area with a maximum depth of 67 feet. Lake Volney has better water clarity than most Waterville Area lakes. A DNR-owned public access is located on the southeast side of the lake off County Road 136. Lake Volney is primarily managed for Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Largemouth Bass and secondarily for Northern Pike and Walleye. The management plan calls for stocking Walleye fry annually and Northern Pike fry are in odd years.
Lake Volney is designated as a Tier-2 Lake and will be surveyed as part of a regularly scheduled monitoring program every 6 years. The 2015 survey was completed the week of 9 June 2025 using 6 gill nets, 8 trap nets, and 75 minutes of standard daytime boat electrofishing.
Read the full DNR narrative
Black Crappie was one of the most abundantly sampled species in 2025. A total of 50 Black Crappie were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 8.3/net. Catch rates since 1993 have varied from 0.5/net to 29.5/net with an average of 10.1/net. Lengths ranged from 6.1 inches to 11.3 inches with an average of 9.6 inches. Black Crappie were also common in the trap net sample with a catch rate of 18.5/net and an average length of 7.8 inches. Fish from both gears ranged from age-1 to age-6 with 6 year classes present. The vast majority of Black Crappie was age-2(43%) or age-5(37%). These large year classes should provide a good fishing opportunity for a few years. Growth was moderate with 8 inches exceeded by age-3.
A total of 216 Bluegills were sampled with trap nets for a catch rate of 27.0/net. Catch rates since 1993 have varied from 5.0/net to 27.0/net with an average of 14.8/net. Black Crappie ranged from 3.6 inches to 8.9 inches with an average of 7.4 inches. An additional 8 fish ranging from 7.0 to 9.4 inches were sampled with gill nets. Fish from both gears ranged from age-3 to age-7 with 4 year classes present. The age-3 and age-4 year classes were the most abundant, making up 78 percent of the sample. Growth was fast with 6 inches reached by age-4 and 8 inches exceeded by age-5.
Largemouth Bass were abundant in 2019 with 41 sampled during standard daytime boat electrofishing for a catch rate of 33.2/hour. The previous sample in 2016 was 61.9/hour. However, in 2025 a combination of clear water and heavy vegetation growth made electrofishing difficult and only 4 fish were sampled using electrofishing. Lengths in 2025 ranged from 7.4 inches to 16.9 inches with an average length of 14.0 inches.
A total of 11 Northern Pike were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 1.8/net which was slightly higher than the long term average catch rate (1.6/net). Northern Pike ranged from 16.8 inches to 36.6 inches with an average of 27.3 inches. Eighty percent of Northern Pike sampled exceeded the legal minimum length of 24 inches.
Just 7 Walleyes were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 1.2/net. The average catch rate on Lake Volney from 1993 to 2025 was 1.6/net. Walleye ranged from 9.6 inches to 23.5 inches with an average of 17.3 inches. Walleye were aged with scales and otoliths and ranged from age-1 to over age-11 with 3 year classes present. All of the sample was from years in which fry were stocked. Walleye growth was fast with quality size of 15 inches reached in the third growing season.
Yellow Perch were common in 2025 with a gill net catch rate of 8.5/net. The long-term average catch rate was 14.2/net, showing Yellow Perch have historically been abundant in Lake Volney. Yellow Perch ranged from 3.3 inches to 8.8 inches with an average of 7.1 inches. The Yellow Perch population in Lake Volney should help support efforts to boost Walleye numbers while also providing a modest fishery themselves.
One of the most abundant species in Lake Volney was Freshwater Drum. In 2025, a total of 102 were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 17.0/net. The average catch rate since 1993 was 33.9/net. The average length in 2025 was 11.7 inches. Although not often targeted, Freshwater Drum can provide both sport and harvest value to anglers and should be promoted as such.
Common Carp are rare in Lake Volney and just 6 fish averaging 27.0 inches were sampled with all net gears in 2025. Maintaining similar numbers should prevent Common Carp from having a major impact on habitat and game fish management in Lake Volney.
Other species sampled in 2025 include Golden Shiner, and Yellow Bullhead.
-Tyler Fellows, fisheries specialist
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Volney Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Volney 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
- Volney Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Volney Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Gorman Lake · 521 ac · 1.9 mi
- Greenleaf Lake · 302 ac · 2.2 mi
- Dora Lake · 733 ac · 3 mi
- Sabre Lake · 258 ac · 4.3 mi
- Clear Lake · 279 ac · 5.5 mi
- Sunfish Lake · 121 ac · 6.4 mi
- German Lake · 889 ac · 7.7 mi
- Rice Lake · 331 ac · 8.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Volney Lake?
Volney Lake reaches 67 ft at its deepest point; about 48% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Volney Lake?
Volney Lake covers 269 acres with about 2.5 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Volney Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Volney Lake average 12.7 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Volney Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Volney Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked northern pike and walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Volney Lake have a public access?
Yes. Volney Lake has one public access site: Volney Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Volney Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 25"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1999.
When was Volney Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Volney Lake in 2025, the most recent of 15 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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