Lake Minnetonka offers anglers a unique opportunity to explore over 100 miles of shoreline, numerous hidden hotspots, and plenty of stunning scenery. This is the ninth largest out of over 12,000 lakes in Minnesota, and boasts stable populations of a variety of game fish. Booking a trip with one of the Lake Minnetonka fishing guides will allow you to get the most out of your visit to this rich fishery.
Although one of the lake’s main draws is that it’s recognized nationally as a Largemouth Bass fishery, it also allows for reliable targeting of many other prized species. All over the lake, guides will also put you on Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Musky, and various Panfish. Naturally, some of these fish are not available year-round, so targeting a specific species may require you to book a trip with this in mind.
The main reason for this diversity of species is that the lake itself is made up of many different bays. These bays almost act as separate lakes, offering slightly different conditions to fish species calling them home. This is why certain species tend to show up in some parts of the lake more often than others. Maxwell Bay is a good example of this, traditionally boasting an above-average population of Northern Pike.
Even the most experienced of anglers could use assistance from a local guide when learning the ins and outs of this rich fishery. Luckily, visiting anglers won’t have to look too hard since fishing has been an obsession for generations of local anglers here. Depending on which parts of the lake you’d like to fish, the towns of Spring Park and Wayzata should prove to be excellent starting points.
Rules & Regulations
Before getting your Lake Minnetonka adventure going, you’ll need to obtain a Minnesota fishing license. You can do this either by visiting the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website or one of the local bait shops. The DNR website will also provide information on the seasons for game fish species, allowing you to plan your visit accordingly.