Delano Area Lakes

Hello, my daughter just purchased a house in Delano. She has been bugging me to get her out fishing more, especially wanting to catch some quality Walleye. I am not familiar with the Delano area lake, would anyone be willing to share if any lakes in the area are good for getting out for some Walleye early in the season?

Viewing the MN DNR site, it looks like these lakes are worth exploring – Pulaski, Washington, Collinwood, Big Swan…

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Todd

Being within an hour of Minneapolis, info isn’t readily shared in public forums these days, unfortunately. But yeah there’s walleye in the lakes you listed.

Collinwood winter killed a year or two ago, for the first time ever.
The one lake I’ll add that’s closer, Minnetonka

Had and Aunt and Uncle who lived in that area 40 years ago and they did a bunch of fishing in the area.. never fished there myself so I don’t know the lakes… good luck!!

Tonka for sure

I figured info would be tough to get, that close to the TC, but was hoping to get a bit of info. Like the winter kill, thank you, that is the kind of info I can’t get otherwise.

I have fished Tonka a couple times, way too busy for me. Want a casual day fishing with the chance to get a few Walleye. I have been on Tonka, dead calm day, and have 4′ rollers from all the big boats, no thank you.

Was going to haul her up to Mille Lacs, chance for a trophy, but that is a bit far to drive for a day trip.

Thanks anyways.

My dad lives in Greenfield, gets some intel from close knit of fishermen here and there. All about timing for quality eyes in which I would still consider the metro area out there. Some lakes can have lights out fishing when certain year classes move thru. Haven’t really figured out the math but it seems natural production can occur really well in what shouldn’t be naturally occurring lakes. Stocking probably is a big factor.

Either way good luck figuring it out. You won’t hear a peep from anyone in the know

Would agree with the sentiment that you’re not gonna find a lot of info on lakes in these areas, too much pressure and too little ethics gets stuff fished out quick.

If you’re not into Tonka, than I’d look at the lakes in the Cokato/Litchfield/Hutchinson triangle. Didn’t know about the winterkill on Collinwood, that lake had been very good for 10+ years but lots to pick from and they all go through population cycles as well, so some time on Lakefinder or onX is worth it. Good luck.

Crow River

I know nothing of the area, but do know that winterkill areas aren’t always “bad”. They can bounce back fast and better than ever before if anything survived.