| Woman Lake is famous for its quality fishing. Its nearly 5,500 acres include a wide variety of terrain that provides habitat for eight species of game fish. Across the center of the lake is a sand-gravel flat with points and turns around its edge. Gravel and rock bars are scattered across the western half of the lake. The average depth is 25 feet, but there are locations that range from 40 to 60 feet.
Due to its relatively shallow nature, when the wind picks up the open water can get rough fast. Our location in Broadwater Bay offers protection from the wind which means you can keep fishing even when the rest of the lake gets too choppy. |
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Check out an aerial view of the lake!
Here are the species of fish found in Woman Lake:
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Walleyes
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Because of Woman Lake’s clarity of up to 12 feet, walleye like to hide in the weeds or the shadow of boulders. The lake is stocked by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Lakes Association. |
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Muskies
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The Woman Lake muskies are considered a tough prey. Although there are fewer Muskie in the lake than in some other lakes, there have been state record-setting catches from Woman Lake including the ’87’s 52-incher weighing 40 lbs., 3 ozs. |
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Bluegills
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In mid-May, Bluegills begin to gather to spawn in shallow bays amid vegetation. The spawning beds appear as round, light-colored depressions. A bobber rigs baited with a worm, waxworm, or small leech works but fly-fishing is more fun. After mid-June, the larger bluegills move out to deeper water. |
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Crappies
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You’ll need to be here in Spring to catch crappies in the shallow bays. As the Summer begins, they disappear for the rest of the open-water season Otter Bay, not far from Broadwater Bay, is one of the ten best crappie spots in Minnesota. |
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Smallmouth Bass |
The best place to catch smallmouth bass is over a shallow rocky reef. Keep your boat to the side and cast to them. The season opens in late May or early June, right around spawning time. The males stay in the spawning area for a week or so while the larger females seek out water as deep as 18 feet. Smallmouth bite best on overcast days with a light chop. Mornings and evenings are better than mid-day. |
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Largemouth Bass
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Broadwater Bay is the kind of area that largemouth bass like. By mid-June they’ve moved into the heavier vegetation and warmer water of bays like Broadwater. They stay here until mid-September. By October, they’re seeking cover in deeper waters and submerged weeds. |
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Northern Pike
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Woman Lake has a good population of four- to six-pound Pike. They bite best when the water is cool. After early June, they’re heading for deeper, cool water. By Fall, they’re back in the shallow water biting on spoons, buck tails, jerkbaits or jigs with four- to six-inch minnows. |
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Perch
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Most perch are caught by ice fisherman but they’re a fun change of pace during the early summer. Minnows work well in June around sand-gravel points. |