Fish Lake
About Fish Lake
Fish Lake is a 297-acre lake near Windom in Jackson County, Minnesota. It reaches 26 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 3.4 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 8.1 feet.
Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 14 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, and bluegill. The DNR has stocking records for the lake, so check the stocking report for the most recent species and year classes. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2025.
There is one public boat launch (concrete surface) managed by the Minnesota DNR and township. Ice typically goes out around March 30, based on 6 years of DNR ice-out records.
Plan Your Visit to Fish Lake
- 297 acres, up to 26 feet deep, near Windom
- 1 public boat launch (concrete) — managed by the Minnesota DNR and township
- Game fish on the DNR survey: walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, and bluegill
- Average water clarity around 8.1 feet
Access & Fees
- Public access
- 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- Launch fee
- Free at DNR accesses
- Managed by
- Minnesota DNR, township
Conditions
- Surface area
- 297 acres
- Max depth
- 26 ft
- Shoreline
- 3.4 mi
- Water clarity
- 8.1 ft
- Shallows (under 15 ft)
- 150 acres
Rules & Regulations
- A Minnesota fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older
- Drain plugs must be out and all water drained before leaving any access; remove aquatic plants from boats and trailers
- Children under 10 must wear a life jacket on a boat that is underway
Facilities
- 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- 2 carry-in accesses
Best For
- Walleye fishing
- Quiet paddling
- Ice fishing
- Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake
Angler's Report
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder- Species on survey
- 14
- Game fish
- 9
- Stocked
- Yes
- Last DNR survey
- 2025
- Special regulations
- No
- Fishing pier
- No
- Ice fishing
- Yes
- Boat launch
- Yes
Fishing data: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Regulations change — confirm with the current DNR fishing regulations.
Ice-Out History
- Median ice-out
- March 30
- Years of record
- 6
- Earliest
- March 5, 1999
- Latest
- April 30, 2018
- Most recent
- April 8, 2019
See every lake on the ice-out tracker. Ice-out data: Minnesota DNR State Climatology Office.
Activities
Amenities
Fish Species
Plan your trip to Fish Lake
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See how Fish Lake ranks among ice fishing lakes nearby.
Nearby Lakes
Cottonwood Lake
47 out of 100 Lake ScoreCottonwood · Windom155 acres
3.5 miles away
Bingham Lake
49 out of 100 Lake ScoreCottonwood · Bingham Lake270 acres
5.2 miles away
Lake Independence
48 out of 100 Lake ScoreJackson · Jackson99 acres
5.6 miles away
Eagle Lake
31 out of 100 Lake ScoreCottonwood · Mountain Lake105 acres
7.5 miles away
String Lake
38 out of 100 Lake ScoreCottonwood · Wilder336 acres
7.8 miles away
Timber Lake
41 out of 100 Lake ScoreJackson · Windom191 acres
8.6 miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Fish Lake?
Fish Lake is in Jackson County, Minnesota, near Windom. It covers 297 acres and reaches 26 feet deep.
How big and how deep is Fish Lake?
Fish Lake covers 297 acres with about 3.4 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 26 feet.
What fish can you catch at Fish Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys list Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, and Channel Catfish and other species. A Minnesota fishing license is required for anyone 16 and older.
Is there a public boat launch on Fish Lake?
Yes. Fish Lake has 1 public boat launch (concrete), managed by the Minnesota DNR and township. DNR public water accesses are free to use.
Can you swim at Fish Lake?
There is no mapped public swim beach at Fish Lake. Minnesota's public waters are open to swimming where you have legal access, but there are no lifeguards or water-quality monitoring away from designated beaches.
Is Fish Lake stocked?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR has stocking records for Fish Lake; species and numbers vary by year, so see the stocking report on DNR LakeFinder.
When does the ice go out on Fish Lake?
The median ice-out date is March 30, from 6 years of Minnesota DNR records. The earliest on record is March 5, 1999 and the latest is April 30, 2018.