View Full Version : Southern Minnesota Lake Suggestions?
SNOPRO
04-19-2009, 04:07 PM
Looking to try some one or two day fishing trips for walleye/panfish from NE Iowa (Waverly area) and am looking for some suggestions for a good lake in SouthCentral/ SouthEast Minnesota. I've fished a lot of Northern Minn. lakes but nothing other than Lake Pepin in the Southern part of the state. I've always wondered about the fishing on some of the lakes along I35 like the one at Albert Lea. Looks like a nice body of water but never talked to anyone who fished it. Any info on the lakes in this or Owatonna/Fairbault area lakes would be appreciated.......Steve :help:
Bob Jensen
04-20-2009, 09:15 AM
Although I've never fished Albert Lea lake, the one I-35 goes over, I've spoke with a good number of people who have done well on walleyes there. As I understand it, Albert Lea Lake is mostly flats 4-6 feet deep. The successful anglers put crankbaits or spinners behind the boat and start trolling. They tell me they take good numbers of 3 pound walleyes.
Pepin is a very good choice for lots of fish species, but mostly walleyes and sauger. Troll the flats and rip-rap shorelines.
I have fished the Faribault area quite a bit. French and Roberds used to be excellent walleye and panfish lakes, but I haven't been on them for a while. Cannon Lake/River is a good walleye lake, and many of the other lakes in the area are outstanding lm bass and panfish lakes. In the Faribault area you can jump from lake to lake pretty quickly. It's possible to fish 3-4 lakes in a day.
Hope this helps, lets see if anyone else can offer advice.
Best Fishes,
Bob Jensen
bus33
04-22-2009, 09:42 AM
This is SW Minnesota, but Lake Sarah is a pretty good fishery for a smaller lake. Some big eyes come out of there every year.
Wasn't that a dead lake for many years, runoff from Hormel or something in that nature?
Bob Jensen
05-07-2009, 11:03 AM
Something was going on up there several years ago that caused alarm regarding water quality. Don't know the conditon of the water now, but from what I hear, the walleyes are thriving.
Best Fishes,
Bob Jensen
mully34122
05-16-2011, 08:03 PM
The walleye in albert lea lake are all healthy and from my expirence usually are in the 15 to 22 inch range. As for the water quality the lake is the cleanest it has been since ive been alive. i havent cought any walleye yet but the other day i cought 8 crappie and 2 perch at the dam all in the 8 to 11 inch range i also threw alot of other small ones back for that i was using minnows.