Minnesota · Pope County
Westport Lake Fishing guide
Westport Lake covers 203 acres in Pope County, Minnesota, reaching 12 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 5.2 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 4 times, most recently in 2022, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Northern pikeOne of the best around17per gill net22"Typical31"Biggest
Lengths measured · 34 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 34 fish
2022Lengths measured · 22 fish
2019Lengths measured · 71 fish
2017Lengths measured · 119 fish
2007BluegillJust a few7.7per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 69 fish
CrappieLast stocked 2019Fair numbers10.4per trap net4"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 95 fish
Recent · 2017Lengths measured · 95 fish
2017Lengths measured · 179 fish
2007Yellow perchExcellent numbers26.5per gill net6"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 53 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 53 fish
2022Lengths measured · 121 fish
2019Lengths measured · 81 fish
2017Lengths measured · 7 fish
2007Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
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 Westport Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth.
- 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 12-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
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. 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 12-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 | Northern pike | Walleye | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 31" | 20" | 14" |
| 2019 | 29" | — | — |
| 2017 | 32" | 25" | 7" |
| 2007 | 34" | — | — |
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:
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
Walleye · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
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 | Walleye | 203,000 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 203,000 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 203,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 203,000 fry |
| 2019 | Black Crappie | 42 adults |
| 2019 | Walleye | 203,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 203,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 203,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 203,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2022 survey
This targeted gill net survey was completed to determine the extent of winterkill following the 2021-2022 winter, to gain updated information on the gamefish community, and to evaluate success of restorative stockings of Black Crappie and Walleye following the severe 2018-2019 winterkill event. Gill netting results indicated that extent of winterkill in 2021-2022 was minimal. Gamefish species present included Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, and Yellow Perch. Northern Pike (17.0/gill net) and Yellow Perch (26.5/gill net) were the only abundant gamefishes. Pike exceeding 30 inches were sampled. Most perch were smaller individuals. Restorative stockings of Black Crappie and Walleye following the 2018-2019 winterkill event were not successful. No Black Crappie and only two Walleye were sampled.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Westport Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Westport 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
- Westport Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Westport Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Amelia Lake · 934 ac · 4.3 mi
- Villard Lake · 544 ac · 4.3 mi
- Leven Lake · 282 ac · 4.3 mi
- Grove Lake · 345 ac · 7 mi
- Maple Lake · 831 ac · 9.7 mi
- Union Lake · 107 ac · 10.4 mi
- Smith Lake · 666 ac · 10.7 mi
- Turtle Lake · 218 ac · 10.8 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Westport Lake?
Westport Lake reaches 12 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 3 ft; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Westport Lake?
Westport Lake covers 203 acres with about 4.8 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Westport Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Westport Lake average 5.2 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Westport Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2022) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Westport Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Westport Lake have a public access?
Yes. Westport Lake has one public access site: Westport Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Westport Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 31"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2007.
When was Westport Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Westport Lake in 2022, the most recent of 4 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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