Minnesota · Wright County
West Lake Sylvia Fishing guide
West Lake Sylvia is a 904-acre lake in Wright County, Minnesota, reaching 97 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 20 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 13 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Fair numbers1.9per gill net19"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 67 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2025Lengths measured · 17 fish
2025Lengths measured · 50 fish
2021Lengths measured · 15 fish
2020Lengths measured · 20 fish
2017Largemouth bassGood numbers84.1per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical21"Biggest
Lengths measured · 192 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 192 fish
2025Lengths measured · 19 fish
2020Lengths measured · 240 fish
2015Lengths measured · 112 fish
2008Northern pikeFair numbers9.4per gill net20"Typical31"Biggest
Lengths measured · 74 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 74 fish
2025Lengths measured · 77 fish
2020Lengths measured · 677 fish
2017Lengths measured · 67 fish
2015BluegillJust a few5.8per trap net7"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 863 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2025Lengths measured · 464 fish
2025Lengths measured · 109 fish
2025Lengths measured · 290 fish
2021Lengths measured · 67 fish
2020CrappieNo recent survey ratingNo recent survey rating.
No recent survey rating.
Lengths measured · 218 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2025Lengths measured · 39 fish
2025Lengths measured · 179 fish
2021Lengths measured · 5 fish
2020Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 175 fish
2017Rock bassGood numbers2.1per gill net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 23 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 23 fish
2025Lengths measured · 9 fish
2020Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 14 fish
2015Lengths measured · 13 fish
2008Rates 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 West Lake Sylvia 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. At 20 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 97 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.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 20 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 97 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.
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 | Largemouth bass | Walleye | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21" | 24" | 31" |
| 2021 | — | 25" | — |
| 2020 | 13" | 24" | 32" |
| 2017 | — | 29" | 36" |
| 2015 | 16" | 24" | 28" |
| 2008 | 18" | 22" | 33" |
| 2002 | 16" | 22" | 29" |
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:
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
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
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
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 | 121,537 fry · 3,122 fingerlings · 633 yearlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 6,475 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 11,224 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 1,209 fingerlings · 48 yearlings · 353 adults |
| 2016 | Walleye | 284 fingerlings · 870 yearlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in West Lake Sylvia was conducted on July 21, 2025 by Sauk Rapids fisheries staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at 12 sampling stations, but two stations were sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample four stations, a 15-foot seine was used at eight stations, and site conditions prevented the use of seines at two stations. Nearshore sampling captured 23 species of fish including six species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Least Darter and Rock Bass) and two that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Common Carp and Green Sunfish).
The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from a standard survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner and Least Darter), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead and Common Carp). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
Read the full DNR narrative
Data from this survey suggests that West Lake Sylvia is in good health as indicated by the FIBI score that exceeds the threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the North Fork Crow River Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
West Lake Sylvia fishing reports
Recent reports on West Lake Sylvia 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
- Twin/Sylvia Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
West Lake Sylvia depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- East Lake Sylvia · 669 ac · 0.8 mi
- Moose Lake · 87 ac · 1.9 mi
- Union Lake · 93 ac · 2.3 mi
- John Lake · 398 ac · 2.4 mi
- Francis Lake · 1,053 ac · 2.9 mi
- French Lake · 346 ac · 3.7 mi
- Betty Lake · 154 ac · 3.8 mi
- Augusta Lake · 187 ac · 4.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is West Lake Sylvia?
West Lake Sylvia reaches 97 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 32.7 ft; about 27% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is West Lake Sylvia?
West Lake Sylvia covers 904 acres with about 12.7 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in West Lake Sylvia?
DNR Secchi readings on West Lake Sylvia average 20 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in West Lake Sylvia?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is West Lake Sylvia stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does West Lake Sylvia have a public access?
Yes. West Lake Sylvia has one public access site: Twin/Sylvia Lake (trailer launch).
How big do largemouth bass get in West Lake Sylvia?
The biggest largemouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 21"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2002.
When was West Lake Sylvia last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed West Lake Sylvia in 2025, the most recent of 13 surveys on record.
Page updated .
Featured guide spot
Your guide service here
One featured guide per lake, with your photo, your writeup and a link straight to your booking page. Free through December 31, 2026.
Then $20 a month from January. Cancel any time.
The live map adds today's conditions and ranked spots for West Lake Sylvia, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open West Lake Sylvia on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report