Minnesota · Lyon County
Yankton Lake Fishing guide
Yankton Lake sits in Lyon County, Minnesota, and covers 403 acres, reaching 8 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 1 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 14 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024One of the best around16per gill net18"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 48 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 58 fish
2025Lengths measured · 48 fish
2022Lengths measured · 2 fish
2019Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 78 fish
2019No recent survey rating.
Yellow perchLast stocked 2019Elite fishery82.3per gill net7"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 259 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 259 fish
2022Lengths measured · 42 fish
2019Lengths measured · 127 fish
2018Lengths measured · 17 fish
2014Rates 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 Yankton Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 1 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 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 8-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 1 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 8-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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9" | — | — |
| 2022 | 19" | 26" | 11" |
| 2019 | 16" | 15" | 8" |
| 2018 | 26" | 31" | 11" |
| 2017 | 7" | — | — |
| 2014 | 27" | 30" | 10" |
| 2010 | 28" | 25" | 11" |
| 2006 | 25" | 33" | 11" |
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
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Spinnerbait
3/8–1/2 oz safety-pin spinnerbait with tandem willow-leaf blades
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
Yellow perch · Live bait
Clip-On Bobber + Worm
half to whole garden nightcrawler
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 | 193,500 fry |
| 2023 | Northern Pike | 616 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 193,500 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 193,500 fry |
| 2020 | Black Crappie | 1,200 adults |
| 2019 | Northern Pike | 194 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 193,500 fry |
| 2019 | Yellow Perch | 1,862 adults |
| 2018 | Walleye | 193,500 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 193,500 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Yankton Lake is a 387-acre lake located in the City of Balaton in Lyon County. Yankton Lake has a maximum depth of 8.0 feet, and a watershed-to-lake ratio of 3 to 1. Despite having a small watershed and being the start of the West Fork of the Des Moines Watershed, Yankton Lake's water quality has typically been poor with Secchi depth's less than 1.0 ft., heavy algae blooms, and turbid water throughout much of the year. Water clarity improved in 2022 as the Secchi depth was 1.8 ft. during the survey, and clearer water was observed throughout much of the year, resulting in aquatic vegetation being present throughout much of the lake. Yankton Lake suffered a substantial partial winterkill during the winter of 2018-2019, as several species of dead fish were observed in the aeration hole and after ice out. It should be noted and known that the winter aeration system was in operation and running during the process of winterkill. While the number of species in the lake was not affected, the kill reduced the relative abundances of most species of fish. Yankton Lake is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Northern Pike, Crappie, and Yellow Perch. Yankton Lake has been stocked with Lower Mississippi Strain (LMS) Walleye fry since 2017 to get this strain established in additional waterbodies. LMS Walleye are present in Murray County's Lake Sarah, a lake that hasn't been stocked since 1991 because the Walleye population is sustained at high abundance through natural reproduction. Yankton Lake was stocked with LMS Walleye because it has traditionally supported a good Walleye population and has historically had sporadic natural reproduction and thus likely has habitat for spawning walleye providing environmental conditions are conducive to natural reproduction. A natural reproduction check was conducted on October 10, 2025, to determine if natural reproduction occurred in Yankton Lake.
Young-of-the-year (YOY) Walleye were captured at a rate of 77.3 per hour, which indicates that natural reproduction occurred in Yankton Lake in 2025. Analysis of fall electrofishing data by DNR staff indicated that a catch rate greater than 5 per hour can result in a successful year class and greater than 25 per hour often produces a year class. Therefore, potential exists for a strong year class from the 2025 natural reproduction in Yankton Lake. Walleye fingerlings ranged from 6.1 to 9.1 inches in length and averaged 7.1 inches. With Walleye reaching a size greater than 5 inches by fall of their first year, survival should be very good. Future monitoring of the Walleye population in Yankton Lake with gillnetting in 2026 will determine the survival and success of the naturally produced 2025 year-class.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Yankton Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Yankton 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
- Yankton Lake (trailer launch)
- Yankton Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Yankton Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- McKay Lake · 167 ac · 2.6 mi
- Lake of the Hill · 147 ac · 3.9 mi
- Rock Lake · 379 ac · 4 mi
- Iron Lake · 282 ac · 5.7 mi
- Brawner Lake · 30 ac · 6.6 mi
- Currant Lake · 406 ac · 6.9 mi
- Clear Lake · 66 ac · 7.1 mi
- Sarah Lake · 1,209 ac · 8.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Yankton Lake?
Yankton Lake reaches 8 ft at its deepest point; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Yankton Lake?
Yankton Lake covers 403 acres with about 4.9 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Yankton Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Yankton Lake average 1 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Yankton Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Yankton Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Yankton Lake have a public access?
Yes. Yankton Lake has 2 public access sites, including Yankton Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Yankton Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 19"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2006.
When was Yankton Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Yankton Lake in 2025, the most recent of 14 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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