Fishing is a great opportunity for recreation in Kandiyohi County for locals and visitors alike. With so many lakes, ponds, streams and the Crow River, the opportunities for angling enthusiasts are nearly endless.
Game fish found in Kandiyohi County Lakes include Sunfish, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye and Northern Pike making the Willmar Lakes Area a popular Minnesota fishing destination.
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Fishing Reports
Fishing Report for 8-11-20
Summer fishing patterns are holding strong for many species of fish in the Willmar Lakes Area. As water temperatures drop, the bite should heat up. For now, concentrate on the weedlines to find the most active daytime walleye. Anglers utilizing crank baits or jigs with crawlers in 10-15 feet of water are seeing the most action. Many walleye are also being caught at night while trolling. The largemouth and smallmouth bass bite has been excellent on many area lakes in the 15-20 foot depths. Northern pike remain fairly deep, responding…
Fishing Report for 8-4-20
Walleye action remains very good in many areas of the county. Anglers are taking nice numbers of walleye from the outside edge of the thick weed beds in 10-30 feet of water. Spinner rigs and live bait rigs tipped with leeches or crawlers are turning the majority of fish. Lots of bass, panfish, and northern pike are also being reported. Water temperatures are at or near peak summer highs so oxygen levels are reduced and fish are much more vulnerable. Please come prepared with the right equipment to quickly unhook…
Fishing Report for 7-28-20
Anglers continue to take good numbers of walleye from the outside edge of the weed beds in roughly 12-30 feet of water. Spinner rigs and live bait rigs tipped with leeches or crawlers are turning the most walleye. Lots of bass, panfish, and northern pike are also being pulled from the deeper weed edges and shady shoreline areas. Popular lakes this week were Eagle, Calhoun, Willmar, Big Kandiyohi, Green and Norway. Please remember that water temperatures are at or near peak summer highs, so oxygen levels are reduced and fish…
Fishing Report for 7-21-20
Although the dead of summer can bring on a lull in fishing, anglers continue to report active fish on area lakes. The walleye bite has been fair to good for anglers trolling harnesses along the weed edges, with some deeper fish on the rocks responding to live bait rigs and snap-jigging. A consistent night bite is being reported along the weedlines. Northern pike remain very aggressive along the shoreline breaks. The crappie and sunfish continue to bite on spinner rigs and jigs with plastics worked over the weeds in 9-15…
Fishing Report for 7-14-20
Walleye action has been good for anglers using bottom bouncers and crawlers in the 15-25 foot depths and in the early mornings and late evenings. Anglers are also doing well trolling shad raps through 10-15 feet of water over the large flats during evening hours. Bass and northern pike action remains strong, especially at the deeper weeds holding baitfish. Jigs and plastics have proven to be the most successful for these fish. The crappies have been aggressive, hitting spinner rigs and jigs with plastics worked over weeds in 9-15 feet…
Fishing Report for 7-7-20
Summer fishing is heating up in the Willmar Lakes Area with anglers reporting lots of action on a variety of lakes. Most fish have moved toward cooler, deeper waters so anglers fishing from a boat are having the most success. Those in search of walleye are finding them in the 10-15 foot depths on Eagle, Ringo, Big Kandiyohi and Diamond lakes. Most success has come from using leeches or nightcrawlers on spinner rigs or lindy rigs. Sunfish continue to be pulled from Lake Calhoun and northern pike have been eager…
Fishing Report for 6-23-20
As the lakes warmed up, the fish have changed to their summer patterns. You’ll find a lot of babies and smaller fish along the shorelines as the bigger fish have moved out deeper. Look towards the deep weed edges for panfish as they like to hide in structure. The crappie bite has increased with active fish found in depths of 8-14 feet. Northern pike are active in 10-14 feet of water using large lures. The best depths for walleye vary, with some coming from 8-18 feet of water, and others…
Fishing Report for 6-16-20
The wind has tampered with the ability to fish the past week. Those that have been out are still catching walleye and crappie on Big Kandiyohi, Willmar, and Foot lakes using nightcrawlers on a spinner rig. Larger sized northerns have been pulled from Norway Lake. Panfish and walleye continue to be pulled from Green Lake usually in the evening hours. A new bait that’s been out-fishing the regular night crawlers 3 to 1 is green night crawlers. You can find these at Runnings in Willmar.
Fishing Report for 6-2-20
It was another great week of fishing action in the Willmar Lakes Area! Sunfish and crappie continue to bite near the fairgrounds on Foot Lake and along the weedline on Elkhorn, Diamond and Henderson lakes. The walleye bite has slowed a bit with the warmer water temperatures, but anglers are still pulling them from Foot, Long, Big Kandiyohi, and Eagle lakes. Active panfish are still being pulled from under the Nest Lake bridge as well. You’ll see more action if you stick near moving water and use smaller profiles like…
Fishing Report for 5-26-20
Anglers continue to enjoy fishing in the many beautiful lakes in the area! The warmer weather this week has proven to be beneficial for fisherman as the waters are heating up and the fish are becoming even more active. Walleye action remains high around sunset and sunrise when using spot tail shiners. Popular walleye lakes this past week included Foot, Willmar, Long, Big Kandiyohi, Norway and Ringo. Sunfish and bass have been eager to bite on Lake Calhoun when using night crawlers and sucker minnows in the morning hours near…
Fishing Report for 5-20-20
Last weekend was packed full of fishing action in the Willmar Lakes Area! Anglers were pulling walleye from shore near the fairgrounds on Foot Lake and off of the new pier on Robbins Island with crappie minnows. Other lakes that had great walleye action included Long, Big Kandiyohi, West Norway, Ringo and Green using spot tail shiners. The walleye have been more eager to bite at sunrise and in the evenings around sunset. Panfish including crappie and sunfish are still biting on Foot, Calhoun, Nest, and Elkhorn lakes. Hopefully the…
Fishing Report for 5-12-20
Despite the cold temperatures, anglers took a lot of fish over opening weekend, including some large walleye. Most of the fish were found along the shoreline in the weeds or on the sand in 5-10 feet of water. Smaller jigs tipped with shiner minnows, cast and slowly retrieved, produced the majority of fish. Popular walleye lakes this past weekend were Elizabeth, Big Kandiyohi, Nest, Ringo, Willmar, Foot and Long. An active crappie bite was also reported on Nest, Willmar, Foot, and Eagle lakes along the shoreline in the 2-5 foot…