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.
Find a Bait Shop Explore Our Lakes
Fishing Reports
Fishing Report for 11-12-19
Most anglers have put away their boats for the season as ice builds on smaller lakes and shallow bays throughout the area. While some anglers are already walking out onto the ice, travel is discouraged and more time is needed for ice to build. Travelling on thin ice is extremely dangerous, and can be life-threatening for anglers and for their rescuers. Please take a moment to review the DNR’s Ice Safety and Ice Thickness Guidelines web pages.
Fishing Report for 11-5-19
Few reports are available as anglers put away their boats for the season. Anglers that continue to venture out, however, are being rewarded for their efforts. Jig and minnow combinations remain the best bet for walleye and crappies. The shorelines, bays and smaller lakes are starting to build ice. The forecast calls for unseasonably cold temperatures so ice should continue to build at a rapid pace over the next week or so. Please remember that it is extremely important to wear a life jacket when out on the water due…
Fishing Report for 10-22-19
Die-hard anglers that continue to venture out are being rewarded for their efforts. The walleye are eager to bite, and the crappie action has heated up. A live bait rig or jig tipped with a large minnow remains best for the walleye, especially at the remaining weedlines. Crappie anglers are having the most success when using a jigging presentation. The most active lakes recently have been Minnetaga, Diamond, Green, Foot and Big Kandiyohi lakes. Water temperatures are in the upper 40s to low 50s on most bodies of water. Please…
Fishing Report for 10-15-19
As the water temperatures have cooled, the fall fishing patterns have taken hold. Crappies have been active on most area lakes and can be found near the deep basin holes. Anglers with success have been using jigs tipped with minnows. The walleye have been found along the weed edges and in the 10-15 foot depths with most success taking place in the last few hours of daylight and by using a jig tipped with a minnow. The northern pike and bass continue to be active in the shallows along the…
Fishing Report for 10-8-19
Better enjoy the fall fishing while we still have fall. With the pending lower temperatures and chance of snow, who knows what the fish will do. But the past couple days have shown that the fish are active and hungry. If you’re searching for walleye, head out to Minnetaga, Big Kandiyohi, Diamond, Foot, and Green lakes. Try fishing right before the evening in the 10-15 foot depths for the best action. Diamond Lake is also producing crappie and sunfish while Foot Lake is putting out nice sized northern pike and…
Fishing Report for 10-1-19
Fall fishing is back on track as the water temperatures have cooled again. Look for crappie and walleye in the 15 foot depth or along the weedlines on Diamond, Big Kandiyohi, Green, Norway, Florida and Eagle lakes. Fathead minnow is the bait of choice right now. You’ll still find eager bass on Eagle Lake, active perch on Big Kandiyohi Lake and hungry sunfish on Green Lake. But the area’s most active lake for a variety of species right now (including sunfish, crappie, walleye and northern pike) is Lake Florida. Be…
Fishing Report for 9-24-19
The water temperatures have started to drop with this fall-like weather we’re having in the area making the fish more eager to bite. Lake Florida is the most active lake in the last week with walleye, northern pike and panfish biting by the dam. The walleye and panfish have also been active in the early evenings on Andrew and Norway lakes with panfish responding well to crappie minnows. Otherwise it’s a good time to switch over to fathead minnows. Eagle and Green lakes are both putting out walleye in the…
Fishing Report for 9-17-19
As the summer temperatures have returned, so has the summer fishing patterns. The water temperatures have went back up to 70 degrees so you’ll find most species of fish in the shallows and along the weedlines in the early evenings. Walleye have been active on Big Kandiyohi, Andrew, Eagle, Foot and Diamond lakes using crappie minnows and wax worms. Anglers have been pulling sunfish and northerns from underneath the Nest Lake bridge, Point Lake and in less than 20 feet of water on Diamond Lake. An added bonus when fishing…
Fishing Report for 9-10-19
After a long week of rainy weather and not many anglers out on the lake, we look forward to the sunny weekend and hope many fisherman enjoy a fall fishing trip this weekend! The walleye are responding well to fathead minnows near the shore in the early morning and evenings, but you’ll have to search a little deeper during the day as they are moving into their fall patterns. Lakes putting out nice sized walleye lately are Long, Ringo, Big Kandiyohi, Willmar and Foot lakes. You’ll find eager panfish on…
Fishing Report for 8-20-19
Panfish are still quite active on most area lakes including Foot, Florida, Diamond and Point lakes. Northern pike can be found in the shallows as weed beds become more established and cooler temperatures return. The walleye bite remains good in the early morning or late evening hours before sunset. Trolling in the early evening seems to work best. Diamond, Green and Big Kandiyohi lakes are still the go-to lakes for walleye right now. Bass remain quite active on Eagle Lake and Green Lake. For more up-to-date reports, stop at J…
Fishing Report for 8-6-19
The weather is perfect for a day, a night, or a weekend of fishing in the Willmar Lakes Area! Your first stop should be Point Lake for more sunfish than you need and eager bass in about the 17 foot depth. Then cross the road to Eagle Lake for a very active bass bite and a few walleye here and there. Next stop should be Lake Florida for a strong walleye bite in the south bay and active northerns throughout the lake. If you head even further north, stop at…
Fishing Report for 7-31-19
The fishing bite has slowed down a bit with the hot temperatures. Most fish have moved deeper to stay cool. When fishing on Foot Lake or Nest Lake, stick near the culverts for the best action. You’ll find sunfish in the weedlines around the 15-17 foot depth on Diamond Lake. The bass have been eagerly biting on Eagle Lake as well as Point Lake around the 17 foot depth. Large sunfish have also been pulled from Point Lake in the past week. When looking for walleye, try trolling rapalas in…