Minnesota · Meeker County
Willie Lake Fishing guide
Willie Lake covers 192 acres in Meeker County, Minnesota, reaching 17 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 2.5 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 11 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Fair numbers2.2per gill net18"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 13 fish
Recent · 2016Lengths measured · 13 fish
2016Lengths measured · 4 fish
2013Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 5 fish
2006Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 12 fish
1996Largemouth bassJust a few18per hr (electrofishing)14"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 33 fish
Recent · 2016Lengths measured · 33 fish
2016Lengths measured · 32 fish
2013Lengths measured · 11 fish
2006Lengths measured · 25 fish
1996Northern pikeJust a few0.7per gill net15"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 12 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2024Lengths measured · 8 fish
2024Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 4 fish
2023Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 60 fish
2016Lengths measured · 11 fish
2013BluegillJust a few1.8per trap net3"Typical6"Biggest
Lengths measured · 16 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 16 fish
2024Lengths measured · 41 fish
2016Lengths measured · 30 fish
2013Lengths measured · 180 fish
2006CrappieFair numbers15per trap net7"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 224 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2024Lengths measured · 134 fish
2024Lengths measured · 90 fish
2023Lengths measured · 206 fish
2016Lengths measured · 48 fish
2013Yellow perchGood numbers4.5per gill net5"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 32 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2024Lengths measured · 5 fish
2024Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 27 fish
2023Lengths measured · 7 fish
2016Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 7 fish
2013Only 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 Willie Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 2.5 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 63% 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 17-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 2.5 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 63% 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 17-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 | Yellow perch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | 22" | 7" |
| 2023 | — | 26" | 6" |
| 2016 | 28" | 32" | 8" |
| 2013 | 18" | 28" | 6" |
| 2006 | 21" | 35" | 6" |
| 1996 | 20" | 25" | 9" |
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
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Tungsten Jig + Micro Plastic
1–1.5" micro plastic
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 | 60,768 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 62,275 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 121,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 121,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Willie is a small lake (191 acres) located south of the City of Litchfield in Meeker County. A state-owned access with gravel parking and a double cement plank boat ramp is present on the west shore. A separate fishing dock is also present at the public access. Willie has approximately three miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of seventeen feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Willie is a class 34 lake and other similar waterbodies in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Spring Lake and Long Lake near Dassel, both in Meeker County. Willie Lake occasionally suffers partial winterkills with the most recent event occurring in 2023. Fish populations can fluctuate widely depending on the severity of the latest winterkill event. It may take several years for all the fish populations to fully recover from the 2023 partial winterkill. Trap netting was conducted in 2024 to fulfill requirements for a fish index of biotic integrity survey.
Moderate numbers of Black Crappie were trap netted in 2024, but average length was small (6.0 inches). Only four fish were 8.0 inches or longer and maximum length was 11.0 inches. Moderate numbers of White Crappie were trap netted, with an average length of 9.0 inches. Approximately 48% of the White Crappie catch was 9 inches or longer, with a maximum length of 11.0 inches. White Crappie will provide some of the best fishing opportunity on Willie Lake at this time. Hybrid Crappie are also present at Willie Lake and the longest hybrid sampled in 2024 was 13.0 inches.
Read the full DNR narrative
Low numbers of Northern Pike were trap netted this year, but gill nets are the preferred gear for sampling this species. A small-sized population of Northern Pike is currently present at Willie Lake. Northern Pike averaged 14.8 inches in length and only one Northern Pike was over 15 inches in length. The size distribution indicated good natural reproduction of Northern Pike in 2023. The longest pike sampled was 22.9 inches.
Additional species sampled include Bluegill, Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Bowfin, Common Carp, Hybrid Sunfish, and Yellow Perch.
People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Overharvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local MNDNR office. Additional information on all these topics can be found on the MNDNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Willie Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Willie 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
- Willie Lake (trailer launch)
- Willie Lake Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Willie Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Greenleaf Lake · 238 ac · 1.3 mi
- Hoff Lake · 139 ac · 2.5 mi
- Minnie-Belle Lake · 597 ac · 2.6 mi
- Cedar Lake · 1,860 ac · 2.8 mi
- Erie Lake · 190 ac · 3.7 mi
- Belle Lake · 864 ac · 3.8 mi
- Manuella Lake · 293 ac · 4.3 mi
- Clear Lake · 82 ac · 4.8 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Willie Lake?
Willie Lake reaches 17 ft at its deepest point; about 63% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Willie Lake?
Willie Lake covers 192 acres with about 3.3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Willie Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Willie Lake average 2.5 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Willie Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Willie Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Willie Lake have a public access?
Yes. Willie Lake has 2 public access sites, including Willie Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Willie Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 28"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1996.
When was Willie Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Willie Lake in 2024, the most recent of 11 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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