Minnesota · Kandiyohi County
Wakanda Lake Fishing guide
Wakanda Lake sits in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, and covers 1,760 acres, reaching 15 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 2.8 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 12 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025One of the best around35.3per gill net15"Typical23"Biggest
Lengths measured · 205 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 68 fish
2022Lengths measured · 137 fish
2021Lengths measured · 93 fish
2019Lengths measured · 134 fish
2018No recent survey rating.
Northern pikeLast stocked 2025Just a few4.8per gill net19"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 19 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 1 fish
2022Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 18 fish
2021Lengths measured · 14 fish
2016Lengths measured · 15 fish
2006CrappieJust a few3.1per trap net5"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 32 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 32 fish
2021Lengths measured · 8 fish
2016Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 13 fish
2006Lengths measured · 46 fish
2002Yellow perchElite fishery68per gill net6"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 376 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 92 fish
2022Lengths measured · 284 fish
2021Lengths measured · 34 fish
2016Lengths measured · 70 fish
2006Rates 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 Wakanda Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 2.8 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 15-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. In 2.8 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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 15-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 | Northern pike | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 19" | 27" | — |
| 2021 | 23" | 26" | — |
| 2019 | 8" | — | — |
| 2018 | 7" | — | — |
| 2016 | 17" | 34" | — |
| 2014 | 8" | — | — |
| 2006 | 22" | 33" | 9" |
| 2002 | 22" | 32" | — |
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 · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Spinnerbait
3/8–1/2 oz safety-pin spinnerbait with tandem willow-leaf blades
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Skirted Casting Jig + Craw Trailer
3.5–4" craw-style trailer on a skirted casting/flipping jig
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 | 14,277 fry |
| 2025 | Walleye | 439,760 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 350,890 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 499,942 fry |
| 2022 | Bluegill Sunfish | 10,000 yearlings |
| 2022 | Largemouth Bass | 99 adults |
| 2022 | Northern Pike | 45,960 fry · 56 fingerlings · 362 adults |
| 2022 | Walleye | 493,587 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 404,928 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 1,151,583 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 1,704,154 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
A targeted fall daytime electrofishing survey was conducted on Wakanda during August 27, 2024 to evaluate young of year "YOY" (fingerling sized) Walleye numbers due to a fry stocking. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e., spawning season, fall season, etc.) unlike a standard survey which samples a wider range of fish species during the summer months using standard methodology (i.e., standard time of year, set sampling stations, taking water clarity readings and oxygen/temperature profiles, etc.) and gears (i.e., lake survey gillnets, trapnets and possibly spring electrofishing for Largemouth Bass). Weather conditions were sunny with a light west wind. The water temperature was 79 F. An intense blue-green algae bloom was noted during the 2024 fall daytime electrofishing survey. We observed abundant numbers of YOY Yellow Perch, adult Common Carp and adult Bigmouth Buffalo; moderate numbers of Largemouth Bass; low numbers of Black Crappie in the 2024 fall daytime electrofishing survey.
Wakanda is a large (1,754 acres), shallow (15 feet maximum depth), turbid, aerated and productive lake located in Kandiyohi County. Wakanda connects to several shallow winterkill prone lakes (Little Kandiyohi, Kasota and Minnetaga) and outlets into several large ditch systems eventually flowing into Big Kandiyohi and Lake Lillian. Partial winterkills of fish occurred during the mid to late 1990's due to high snowfall events or operational problems with the aeration system. A significant winterkill of gamefish (Walleye, Bluegill, and Black Crappie) and Common Carp occurred during January/February of 2013 and a partial winterkill in 2014. The helixor aeration system was moved from deeper water with softer substrates to shallower water with rock substrates in the 2014 fall. Oxygen levels were good through January of 2019, but heavy snowfall during February lowered oxygen levels in many shallow area lakes. A partial winterkill occurred in February of 2019 even though the aeration system was operational all winter. We observed abundant numbers of dead Common Carp, White Sucker and Bigmouth Buffalo. We also saw low numbers of dead adult Walleye, Black Bullhead and Yellow Perch. However, we caught low/moderate numbers of gamefish in the 2019 spring trap nets. A drawn down was initiated during 2020-2021 to facilitate a winterkill of less desirable fish species (Common Carp, Black Bullheads) in accordance with management plan objectives formalized by the DNR Wildlife & Fisheries, Ducks Unlimited and local conservation and governmental groups. The Wakanda maximum depth was only 11 feet in 2021 summer compared to the historical depth of 15 feet. Boat access was severely limited due to low/shallow water in 2021. Oxygen levels were extremely low (0.3-0.9 ppm) during late February of 2021. Dissolved oxygen levels were variable during the 2021-22 winter due in part to low water levels, colder temperatures, variability in snow cover, and overabundance of submergent vegetation in some basins (i.e., Elizabeth). In the 2021-22 winter, high snowfall cover coupled with low water and decaying of high submergent vegetation densities in some area lakes resulted in rapid declines of winter oxygen levels. Oxygen levels ranged from 6.8 ppm in early January of 2022 to 1.5 ppm at the end of February 2022 for Wakanda. There were no reports of winterkill for the 2021-22 winter. Water levels rebounded in 2022 to allow use of the public accesses but was still low compared to normal levels. The aeration system was operated in the 2022-23 winter due to heavy snowfall conditions. Winter dissolved oxygen readings near the aeration system was around 5 ppm on February 7, 2023 which was better than other nearby lakes like Elizabeth and Ella (1-2 ppm). Gamefish often become susceptible to winterkill when oxygen levels are less than 1 ppm for an extended period. There were no reports of winterkill in 2023. Water levels returned to normal in 2024.
Read the full DNR narrative
Walleye natural reproduction is insignificant during most years based on previous surveys, although adequate windswept shoal water substrates for good spawning habitat are present in Wakanda. Spicer Strain Walleye fry were last stocked during 2024 (351,000 fish) in Wakanda. Approximately 500,00 Spicer Strain Walleye fry were stocked in 2022-23. No Walleye fry were stocked in 2020-21. Spicer Strain Walleye fry (405,000 fish) were stocked in 2019. Pike River Strain Walleye fry (1.2 million fish) were stocked in 2018. Approximately 1.6 million plus Walleye fry were stocked each year during 2016 (Pike River Strain), 2014 (Private and Spicer Strains) and 2013 (Pike River Strain).
No YOY Walleye were caught in the 2024 fall daytime electrofishing survey. Abundant YOY Walleye numbers (188.00 YOY/hour, 7.38 inches) were caught in the 2022 fall daytime electrofishing survey. YOY Walleye are probably more numerous than documented in 2022 due to daytime electrofishing being less effective than night electrofishing for catching YOY Walleye. Abundant YOY Walleye numbers (276.00 YOY/hour, 7.31 inches) were captured in the 2019 fall night electrofishing survey. YOY Walleye numbers were also abundant in 2018 (285.00 YOY/hour, 6.20 inches), 2016 (90.00 YOY/hour, 6.84 inches) and 2014 (464.00 YOY/hour, 7.91 inches) fall night electrofishing surveys. No YOY walleye were captured in the 2013 fall night electrofishing survey.
Adult Walleye abundance was moderate (8.00 fish/gillnet) in the 2022 summer survey. The Walleye abundance was higher (44.33 fish/gillnet) in 2021. The Walleye historical average catch rate (2002-present) is 39.27 fish/gillnet. The 2022 Walleye average weight and length were 2.01 pounds and 17.78 inches from gillnets. The Walleye historical average weight is 1.42 pounds from gillnets. The Walleye catch rate of quality size (15.00 inches and larger) was 7.00 fish/gillnet in 2022. The Walleye catch rate of preferred size (20.00 inches and larger) was 0.00 fish/gillnet in 2022. Walleye growth rates were within or above the Spicer Area normal ranges for ages 1-6. The 2019 and 2016 year classes (fry stocked) comprised 78% and 11% respectively of the 2022 Walleye gillnet and trapnet catch. The largest Walleye captured was 18.74 inches in the 2022 survey.
Current fish management activities on Wakanda include monitoring winter dissolved oxygen levels, assisting Kandiyohi County in operating the aeration system, protecting aquatic vegetation through the permit process, assisting aquatic plant management and enforcement personnel in educating boaters and monitoring access sites for potential invasive species introductions, encouraging land owners to implement best management practices in the watershed, and stocking various fish species as warranted. All fish species will be sampled in 2026. Fall electrofishing surveys will be periodically conducted during Walleye fry stocked years to assess the success or failure of the stockings.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Wakanda Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Wakanda 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
- Wakanda Lake (N) (trailer launch)
- Wakanda Lake (S) (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Wakanda Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Big Kandiyohi Lake · 2,730 ac · 5 mi
- Willmar Lake · 636 ac · 5.7 mi
- Minnetaga Lake · 791 ac · 5.7 mi
- Foot Lake · 503 ac · 6.2 mi
- Ella Lake · 153 ac · 8.3 mi
- Eagle Lake · 850 ac · 8.4 mi
- Elizabeth (Main Lake) · 1,024 ac · 8.5 mi
- Lillian Lake · 1,151 ac · 8.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Wakanda Lake?
Wakanda Lake reaches 15 ft at its deepest point; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Wakanda Lake?
Wakanda Lake covers 1,760 acres with about 18.9 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Wakanda Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Wakanda Lake average 2.8 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Wakanda Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish.
Is Wakanda Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked northern pike and walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Wakanda Lake have a public access?
Yes. Wakanda Lake has 2 public access sites, including Wakanda Lake (N) (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Wakanda Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 23"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2002.
When was Wakanda Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Wakanda Lake in 2024, the most recent of 12 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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