Ripley Lake (west portion)

How big is Ripley Lake (west portion)?

How deep is Ripley Lake (west portion)?

What kind of fish can you catch in Ripley Lake (west portion)?

What are the closest cities to Ripley Lake (west portion)?

Are there boat launches on Ripley Lake (west portion)?

Are there places to eat and drink near Ripley Lake (west portion)?

What are the fishing regulations for Ripley Lake (west portion)?

There are specific fishing regulations Ripley Lake (west portion) that you need to know. For complete fishing regulations visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. To report a violation call (800) 652-9093. Need a Minnesota fishing license?

What aquatic invasive species are found in Ripley Lake (west portion)?

Ripley is a medium sized lake (614 acres) located next to the City of Litchfield in Meeker County. Ripley has four miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 18 feet. A city owned public access, with a cement boat ramp, and a large amount of parking is present on the east shore. A county owned public access, with a cement boat ramp, is present on the lake's western shore. A fishing pier is also available at the Ripley County Park on the west side of the lake. Spring trap netting, targeting Bluegill and Black Crappie, was completed at Ripley Lake on from May 1st to June 6th. Data was collected for size structure analysis. In addition to Bluegill and Black Crappie, Pumpkinseed Sunfish and Hybrid Sunfish were also collected during this assessment. Spring panfish trap netting catches should not be compared to historical summer trap net catches because summer trap net catches sometimes do a poor job of sampling larger Bluegill.

A new sunfish regulation (five fish bag limit) began on March 2022. The regulation was implemented to achieve a high quality sunfish population that includes more large fish exceeding 8 inches). Anglers can find sunfish scattered throughout Ripley's submergent vegetation beds. Bigger Bluegill are often found in deeper water during the mid-summer months and offshore vegetation can be fairly dense some years at Ripley - making those larger sunfish tough to locate. Try dragging a waxworm under a sinker in 8 to 10 feet of water in mid-summer if you cannot find the big sunnies up shallow. The scattered submergent vegetation beds along the north shore are popular with winter sunfish anglers.

Crappie recruitment appeared to be inconsistent at Ripley Lake. Crappie can sometimes be found off the deep weed edges in the summer using a small minnow under a bobber. Winter fishing pressure can be substantial at Ripley Lake and crappie are often found along the deeper flats or breaks, and around the deep hole.

People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Over harvest, 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. Ripley Lake has the AIS - Eurasian watermilfoil. 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 Ripley Lake (west portion)?