Lake Minnetonka fishing conditions · Minnesota

Now until 7 pmWalleye

The bite peaks at 100.

Right now: 96 for walleye, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Walleye, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

963 pm
100
96
966 pm
82
82
829 pm
82
86
86Sun
82
82
823 am
82
82
826 am
86
82
829 am
82
86
8612 pm
82
82
823 pm
86
82
826 pm
82
82
829 pm
82
86
86Mon
86
82

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: No reading
Wind: 10 mph
Flow: 928.42 ft gauge height
Light: Daylight
Sky: Mostly Sunny
Air: 51°F
Barometer: Falling
Moon: 5% lit

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Minnesota regulations for these waters.

Walleye

Sander vitreus

100GoNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Walleye bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Walleye feeds aggressively in low light. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota: 6 walleye and sauger a day combined, only 1 walleye over 20". Season runs from the opener (Saturday two weeks before Memorial Day weekend) to the last Sunday in February. Many lakes have their own limits.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Minnesota

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–May, Oct–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on walleye

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

53Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

6 a day

Catch and release only today. Minnesota Southern and North-central zones: 6 bass a day combined. Smallmouth are catch and release from Mar 1 to the Friday before Memorial Day and again from the second Monday in September.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Minnesota

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on smallmouth bass

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Largemouth bass bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Largemouth bass is here May–Oct. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota Southern and North-central zones: 6 bass a day combined. Largemouth are catch and release from Mar 1 to the Friday before Memorial Day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Minnesota

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on largemouth bass

Muskellunge

Esox masquinongy

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Muskellunge bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Muskellunge is here May–Oct. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

54" minimum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota: 54" minimum, 1 a day. Season is the first Saturday in June through Nov 30 (Jun 5–Nov 30, 2027).

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Minnesota

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on muskellunge

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Crappie bite in 50–80° water, best near 65°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Crappie is here May–Oct. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota: 10 crappie a day, open all year. Many lakes cut it to 5.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Minnesota

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on crappie

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Common carp is here May–Oct. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota: carp have a continuous season and no limit. Carp may not be taken by spear, archery or dip net in designated trout lakes and streams.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Minnesota

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

The water

Water temperatureNo reading
River928.42 ft gauge height · steady
Barometer29.97 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunset today4:55 pm
Sunrise tomorrow7:02 am
MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
Minor solunarToday 3:20 pm–4:20 pm
Major solunarTonight 10:10 pm–12:10 am
Minor solunarTomorrow 6:20 am–7:20 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Minnesota DNR publishes a report for the state.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

The big metro lake on the west side of Minneapolis — largemouth and smallmouth bass, a strong muskie program, plus walleye, crappie, and panfish.

WaterLake
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesMinnesota
WhereHennepin County · 44.9300, -93.6000

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Mille Lacs Lake91 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 7 pm

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Spirit Lake127 mi · IowaBest now until 7 pm

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West Okoboji Lake132 mi · IowaBest now until 7 pm

59Marginal

Leech Lake158 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 7 pm

82Worth the trip

Lake Vermilion212 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 7 pm

65Marginal

Lewis and Clark Lake241 mi · NebraskaBest now until 7 pm

94Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Lake Minnetonka?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Lake Minnetonka you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Lake Minnetonka?

Lake Minnetonka is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Muskellunge, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Lake Minnetonka?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Lake Minnetonka against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Lake Minnetonka have?

Lake Minnetonka has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Lake Minnetonka?

state agency regulations apply at Lake Minnetonka. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Lake Minnetonka tidal water?

No. Lake Minnetonka is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.