Minnesota · McLeod County
Winsted Lake Fishing guide
Winsted Lake is a 382-acre lake in McLeod County, Minnesota, reaching 12 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 3 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 8 times, most recently in 2021, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
No recent survey rating.
CrappieLast stocked 2023Fair numbers15.9per trap net4"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 710 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 710 fish
2021Lengths measured · 541 fish
2015Lengths measured · 277 fish
2009Lengths measured · 72 fish
2004Yellow perchGood numbers11.6per gill net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 104 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 104 fish
2021Lengths measured · 22 fish
2015Lengths measured · 333 fish
2009Lengths measured · 348 fish
2004No 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 Winsted Lake 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. In 3 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 100% 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. A 12-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 3 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 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.
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 | Northern pike | Walleye |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15" | 19" | — |
| 2015 | 17" | 29" | 22" |
| 2009 | 18" | 31" | — |
| 2004 | — | 28" | — |
| 1994 | — | 33" | 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:
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
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
Walleye · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
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 | 192,267 fry |
| 2024 | Northern Pike | 18 adults |
| 2023 | Black Crappie | 84 adults |
| 2023 | Bluegill Sunfish | 52 adults |
| 2023 | Walleye | 192,774 fry |
| 2021 | Bluegill Sunfish | 373 adults |
| 2021 | Largemouth Bass | 20 yearlings · 20 adults |
| 2021 | Walleye | 191,289 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 382,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 382,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2021 survey
Winsted is a medium sized lake (382 acres) located near the City of Winsted in McLeod County. A small state-owned access with a single cement boat ramp is located on the southeast shore. Winsted has four miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 12 feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Winsted is a class 43 lake and other similar lakes in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Swan and Hook. Winsted Lake is aerated during the winter to provide a small refuge area for fish during severe winters. Winter anglers are advised to stay clear of thin ice signs. Fish populations can fluctuate widely from year to year due to winterkill.
Winsted Lake experienced a partial winterkill in 2021 and game fish populations declined substantially from the previous two surveys (2009 and 2015). Winsted is known for its decent crappie, Northern Pike, and Walleye angling. The highlight of the 2021 standard survey was the record high catch of Black Crappie. Unfortunately, only 1 fish was over 6 inches in length. However, fish growth following a partial winterkill can be fast and the high numbers of 4 to 5 inch long crappie could provide excellent fishing in a year or two. Walleye and Channel Catfish were not sampled in the 2021 summer survey. Extremely low numbers of Northern Pike (1), Bluegill (1) and Largemouth Bass (3) were netted this summer. Adult Bluegill and LargemouthBass, plus Walleye fry, were stocked in the spring of 2021 following the partial winterkill and prior to this netting. The goal of stocking broodstock adults is for those adult fish to spawn in the spring and hopefully produce large year classes that same year. If successful, those fish should grow to catchable sizes within a few years and reproduce, re-establishing a diverse game fish community. The 2021 lake management plan for Winsted Lake calls for Walleye fry to be stocked every other year.
Read the full DNR narrative
Other species that anglers may encounter include Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Common Carp, Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Orangespotted Sunfish, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.
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 DNR office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Winsted Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Winsted 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
- Winsted Lake (trailer launch)
- Winsted Lake Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Winsted Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Mary Lake · 190 ac · 2.5 mi
- Ida Lake · 85 ac · 2.6 mi
- Dog Lake · 97 ac · 2.7 mi
- Emma Lake · 189 ac · 4.2 mi
- Ann Lake · 375 ac · 4.7 mi
- Dutch Lake · 162 ac · 6.6 mi
- Little Waverly Lake · 338 ac · 7.8 mi
- Howard Lake · 745 ac · 7.8 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Winsted Lake?
Winsted Lake reaches 12 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 6 ft; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Winsted Lake?
Winsted Lake covers 382 acres with about 4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Winsted Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Winsted Lake average 3 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Winsted Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2021) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish.
Is Winsted Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Winsted Lake have a public access?
Yes. Winsted Lake has 2 public access sites, including Winsted Lake (trailer launch).
How big do largemouth bass get in Winsted Lake?
The biggest largemouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 15"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Winsted Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Winsted Lake in 2021, the most recent of 8 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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