Minnesota · Cass County
Welch Lake Fishing guide
Welch Lake covers 196 acres in Cass County, Minnesota, reaching 59 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 8.2 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 11 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Fair numbers2.3per gill net18"Typical20"Biggest
Lengths measured · 14 fish
Recent · 2020Lengths measured · 14 fish
2020Lengths measured · 13 fish
2015Lengths measured · 9 fish
2005Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 35 fish
2000BluegillFair numbers34.5per trap net4"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 380 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 380 fish
2025Lengths measured · 76 fish
2020Lengths measured · 37 fish
2015Lengths measured · 260 fish
2005Rates 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 Welch 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. On a lake that drops to 59 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.
- 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 59 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 20" | 13" | 22" |
| 2015 | 22" | 18" | 29" |
| 2005 | 25" | 17" | 31" |
| 2000 | 20" | 19" | 28" |
| 1995 | 28" | 16" | 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 · 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | 108,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 39,150 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 131,500 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 39,440 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 240,010 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 270,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 189,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Welch Lake (DOW# 11-0493; Lake Class 31) is a 195-acre lake with 78 littoral acres, 2.30 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 59 feet located near Wilkinson, MN. A DNR owned public access is located on the east shore. The DNR has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical and other characteristics. Welch Lake is in Lake Class 31; lakes in the class are generally clear, productive, with moderate depth. Other Lake Class 31 lakes in the Walker Area include Bowen, Five Point, Little Webb, and Sanborn. In 2025 a spring trap net survey was completed to evaluate a special regulation for Sunfish (5 Sunfish daily bag) which was implemented in 2022.
High numbers of Bluegill were sampled although most were small, ranging in length from 2 to 10 inches, and a mean length of 4.71 inches. Current management goals were developed utilizing summer trap net data although, size structure represented in the spring trap nets was much smaller than what was observed in the previous summer survey (2020). Additionally, both Hybrid Sunfish and Pumpkinseed were sampled measuring up to 10 inches.
Read the full DNR narrative
People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. No aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Welch Lake. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Welch Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Welch 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
- Welsh Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Welch Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Crooked Lake · 582 ac · 1.2 mi
- Thirteen Lake · 555 ac · 2.4 mi
- Portage Lake · 361 ac · 2.5 mi
- Steamboat Lake · 1,756 ac · 4.8 mi
- Pike Bay Lake · 4,756 ac · 7.3 mi
- Lower Sucker Lake · 592 ac · 8.1 mi
- Horseshoe Lake · 264 ac · 8.6 mi
- Middle Sucker Lake · 286 ac · 9 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Welch Lake?
Welch Lake reaches 59 ft at its deepest point; about 40% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Welch Lake?
Welch Lake covers 196 acres with about 2.2 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Welch Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Welch Lake average 8.2 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Welch Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Welch Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Welch Lake have a public access?
Yes. Welch Lake has one public access site: Welsh Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Welch Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 20"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1995.
When was Welch Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Welch Lake in 2025, the most recent of 11 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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