Winsted Lake

How big is Winsted Lake?

How deep is Winsted Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Winsted Lake?

What are the closest cities to Winsted Lake?

Are there topographical lake maps available Winsted Lake?

We have an topograpical map for online viewing near the top of this page. Lake-Link Pro users can download an print a topograpical map of Winsted Lake (.pdf format) along with 2,700 more lake maps. For more information on all the benefits of Lake-Link Pro click here.

Winsted Lake

Are there boat launches on Winsted Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Winsted Lake?

Winsted is a medium sized lake (382 acres) located near the City of Winsted in McLeod County. A small state-owned access with a single cement boat ramp is located on the southeast shore. Winsted has four miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 12 feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Winsted is a class 43 lake and other similar lakes in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Swan and Hook. Winsted Lake is aerated during the winter to provide a small refuge area for fish during severe winters. Winter anglers are advised to stay clear of thin ice signs. Fish populations can fluctuate widely from year to year due to winterkill.

Winsted Lake experienced a partial winterkill in 2021 and game fish populations declined substantially from the previous two surveys (2009 and 2015). Winsted is known for its decent crappie, Northern Pike, and Walleye angling. The highlight of the 2021 standard survey was the record high catch of Black Crappie. Unfortunately, only 1 fish was over 6 inches in length. However, fish growth following a partial winterkill can be fast and the high numbers of 4 to 5 inch long crappie could provide excellent fishing in a year or two. Walleye and Channel Catfish were not sampled in the 2021 summer survey. Extremely low numbers of Northern Pike (1), Bluegill (1) and Largemouth Bass (3) were netted this summer. Adult Bluegill and LargemouthBass, plus Walleye fry, were stocked in the spring of 2021 following the partial winterkill and prior to this netting. The goal of stocking broodstock adults is for those adult fish to spawn in the spring and hopefully produce large year classes that same year. If successful, those fish should grow to catchable sizes within a few years and reproduce, re-establishing a diverse game fish community. The 2021 lake management plan for Winsted Lake calls for Walleye fry to be stocked every other year.

Other species that anglers may encounter include Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Common Carp, Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Orangespotted Sunfish, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.

People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Overharvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local DNR office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.

What is the average air temp for Winsted Lake?