Minnesota · Wright County
Washington Lake Fishing guide
Washington Lake is a 156-acre lake in Wright County, Minnesota, reaching 21 ft at its deepest point. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 1 time, most recently in 2009, with largemouth bass and crappie in the nets. That survey is 17 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Largemouth bassGood numbers90.9per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 77 fish
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 Washington Lake through the year
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn.
- 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.
Crappie
- Spring
- Crappie are up in the back bays and against wood in a few feet of water, spawning shallower than most people fish for them.
- Early summer
- Crappie are pulling off the bays to the first deep weed edge and brush, still reachable shallow at dusk.
- Summer
- Crappie are over the basin of a stratified lake, well off any structure, which is why summer netting barely catches them inshore. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Crappie are schooled along the deep weedline and the basin edge, pushing shallow to feed at dusk while the water still turns over slowly.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
Crappie · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Crappie · Jigs & bladed
Beetle Spin
1.5–2" curly-tail grub trailer on a small in-line spinner jighead
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 2009 survey
Washington Lake was originally surveyed in 1972. At that time no fish were taken in either gill nets or trap nets. Up until 1992 there were some severe winters and a tendency toward low oxygen. Since 2001 winters have been mild and there have been no reports of dead fish after winter. Rising water levels have provided more habitat/volume for well-oxygenated water.
The fishery has changed markedly since 1972. We have reports of excellent northern pike and largemouth fishing. Sunfish and crappies are caught. Yellow perch were observed during electrofishing.
Read the full DNR narrative
Past Management of this shallow, natural environment lake has been limited to oxygen testing, and a largemouth "angler survey" on June 20, 2006. Largemouth electrofishing was accomplished on 5/6/09 and a survey of curled pondweed took place June 2009.
Largemouth bass were sampled by night-time electrofishing on May 6, 2009. No previous electrofishing survey had ever been conducted. A total of 77 largemouth bass were sampled in 0.93 hours of effort for a catch rate of 90.9 fish/hr. Largemouth bass sampled ranged in length from 6.2 to 19.1 inches with an average length of 12.5 inches. Proportional stock density (PSD) was 54, with RSD-P, 24.
Curled pondweed was mapped at the time of peak abundance on June 3, 2009. It was found growing at or near the surface on 59.5 acres, 36.3 percent of the lakes' surface.
Results of water quality testing from a single sample collected on 7/27/09 showed that total phosphorous and chlorophyll a were: 0.081 ppm and 90.6. ppb, respectively. Corresponding TSI values were: 67 and 75. Washington Lake has hyper-eutrophic status.
The lake is undeveloped in a landscape that is rapidly developing (eastern Wright County). The lake seems unique in that (reportedly) few fish are harvested, bald eagles nest and beaver occupy the shoreline.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Washington Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Washington 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.
DNR bathymetry
Washington Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Pulaski Lake · 813 ac · 2.7 mi
- Beebe Lake · 323 ac · 2.8 mi
- Constance Lake · 175 ac · 3.6 mi
- Charlotte Lake · 253 ac · 3.7 mi
- Martha Lake · 103 ac · 4.6 mi
- Buffalo Lake · 1,552 ac · 5.3 mi
- Dean Lake · 176 ac · 5.4 mi
- Mink Lake · 94 ac · 5.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Washington Lake?
Washington Lake reaches 21 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 9 ft; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Washington Lake?
Washington Lake covers 156 acres with about 3.2 miles of shoreline.
What fish are in Washington Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2009) record largemouth bass, crappie.
Is Washington Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Washington Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
How big do largemouth bass get in Washington Lake?
The biggest largemouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 19".
When was Washington Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Washington Lake in 2009. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.
Page updated .
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