Minnesota · Winona County
Winona Lake Fishing guide
Winona Lake is a 308-acre lake in Winona County, Minnesota, reaching 38 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 3.2 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 23 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Excellent numbers7per gill net16"Typical29"Biggest
Lengths measured · 74 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2025Lengths measured · 33 fish
2025Lengths measured · 41 fish
2021Lengths measured · 15 fish
2016Lengths measured · 32 fish
2012Largemouth bassGood numbers54.9per hr (electrofishing)12"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 92 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2025Lengths measured · 57 fish
2025Lengths measured · 35 fish
2021Lengths measured · 113 fish
2016Lengths measured · 181 fish
2015BluegillJust a few4.5per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 377 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2025Lengths measured · 193 fish
2025Lengths measured · 184 fish
2021Lengths measured · 155 fish
2016Lengths measured · 195 fish
2012CrappieJust a few0.4per trap net9"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 12 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2025Lengths measured · 2 fish
2025Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 10 fish
2021Lengths measured · 21 fish
2016Lengths measured · 28 fish
2012Yellow perchGood numbers5.8per gill net8"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 65 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2025Lengths measured · 43 fish
2025Lengths measured · 22 fish
2021Lengths measured · 23 fish
2016Lengths measured · 10 fish
2012No recent survey rating.
No recent survey rating.
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 Winona Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 3.2 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 90% 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.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. In 3.2 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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 90% 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.
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 | Smallmouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26" | 18" | 10" |
| 2021 | 29" | 17" | — |
| 2016 | 25" | 19" | — |
| 2015 | — | 16" | — |
| 2012 | 27" | 17" | — |
| 2009 | 26" | 19" | — |
| 2006 | 23" | 17" | — |
| 2003 | 27" | 19" | — |
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
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Ned Rig
2.75" finesse stickbait or craw-style Ned bait
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile 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 | 4,617 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 5,780 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 4,000 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 3,050 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
The 318 acre Lake Winona is located in the City of Winona and is surrounded by city park and biking path. There are
two distinct basins to the lake. The upper (West) basin is generally shallow with little depth diversity, while the lower
Read the full DNR narrative
(East) basin has more depth and habitat diversity. A dredging project completed in 2001 on the lower basin created a
larger area of deeper water with less vegetation to hinder recreation. Fish communities are similar in the two basins, but most fishing pressure occurs in the lower basin.
There are three public boat accesses and three fishing piers on the lake. There is also ample opportunity for shore
angling. Many fish houses can be seen utilizing the lake in winter months. There is an outlet from the lake that
eventually connects to the Mississippi River. The outlet is controlled by a city owned concrete dam with 0.8 foot head.
There was an electrical barrier operated by the city above the dam to impede influx of Common Carp and other fish species from the Mississippi River. The electrical barrier was removed when the bridge where it operated was replaced in 2022 due to lack of a public entity willing to pay for reinstallation or future maintenance.
Sand is the most common substrate in Lake Winona. The upper basin is dominated by muck near the inlet. Gravel, silt, clay, rock, muck, and rubble are rare throughout both basins. Burreed, bushy pondweed, cattail, curly-leaf pondweed, duckweed, Eurasian watermilfoil, coontail, purple loosestrife, sago pondweed, and water meal can all be found. Curly-leaf pondweed dominates much of Lake Winona in May and June. There are a few areas in the lower basin that reach 38 feet in depth. Much of the shoreline is sandy with a gradual drop off.
Lake Winona provides good fishing for quality size Largemouth Bass and in recent years has provided quality fishing for Bluegill. The average size of Bluegill has shown improvement since the 2001 dredging project. Other gamefish species include Black Crappie, Northern Pike, Walleye and Yellow Perch.
Walleye fingerlings were stocked annually (100 pounds) until 2012, but now stocking is done in alternate (even number) years at a rate of 200 pounds per year. Walleye stocking has provided a relatively consistent population and opportunity for anglers to catch this species. This year's gill net sample revealed an excellent Walleye population of various size ranges.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Winona Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Winona 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
- Lake Winona (trailer launch)
- Lake Winona (trailer launch)
- Lake Winona - west (trailer launch)
- Lake Winona, Lake Lodge Rec Center (carry-in)
- Lake Winona, West Carry-In (carry-in)
- Lake Winona Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
- Lake Winona Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Winona Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Goodview Lake · 77 ac · 4.8 mi
- Shamrock Impoundment Lake · 9 ac · 29.3 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Winona Lake?
Winona Lake reaches 38 ft at its deepest point; about 90% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Winona Lake?
Winona Lake covers 308 acres with about 5.2 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Winona Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Winona Lake average 3.2 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Winona Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish, white bass, sauger.
Is Winona Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Winona Lake have a public access?
Yes. Winona Lake has 7 public access sites, including Lake Winona (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Winona Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 29"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2003.
When was Winona Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Winona Lake in 2025, the most recent of 23 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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