Lake Minnetonka fishing conditions · Minnesota

Now until 6 amMuskellunge

The bite peaks at 86.

Right now: 83 for muskellunge, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Muskellunge, 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.

832 am
86
86
835 am
73
73
778 am
77
73
7311 am
73
77
772 pm
66
66
665 pm
70
66
668 pm
66
66
6611 pm
66Tue
70
702 am
66
73
735 am
73
73
738 am
73
80
7611 am
76
76

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

Water: No reading
Wind: 10 mph
Flow: 928.14 ft gauge height
Light: Dark
Sky: Chance Light Rain
Air: 48°F
Barometer: Falling
Moon: 100% 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.

Muskellunge

Esox masquinongy

86GoNow until 6 am

Water

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

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Muskellunge feeds aggressively under full moon. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

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

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

84Worth the tripNow until 6 am

Water

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

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

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

Walleye

Sander vitreus

84Worth the tripNow until 6 am

Water

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

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. 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

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

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

78Worth the tripNow until 6 am

Water

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

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

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

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

78Worth the tripNow until 6 am

Water

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

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

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

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

78Worth the tripNow until 6 am

Water

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

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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 8 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
River928.14 ft gauge height · steady
Barometer30.44 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunrise today7:44 am
Sunset today6:12 pm
MoonFull, 100% lit
Minor solunarToday 8:00 am–9:00 am
Major solunarToday 12:10 pm–2:10 pm
Minor solunarToday 5:30 pm–6:30 pm

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 today 6 am–7 pm

80Worth the trip

Spirit Lake127 mi · IowaBest now until 6 am

87Go

West Okoboji Lake132 mi · IowaBest tomorrow 1 am–2 pm

80Worth the trip

Leech Lake158 mi · MinnesotaBest today 6 am–10 pm

80Worth the trip

Lake Vermilion212 mi · MinnesotaNo window clears the bar

45Sit it out

Lewis and Clark Lake241 mi · NebraskaBest tonight 10 pm to tomorrow 2 pm

68Marginal

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.