Hey guys, on opening weekend I will be out on Albert Lea Lake fishing with a buddy of mine. Neither of us have ever been there before, but heard it was great and want to give it a try. Anyone who has been out there before have any suggested spots, tactics, or tips for us? thanks!
Opener? Albert Lea Lake? Gotta be kidding.
What branch of state government you work for?
Shallow lake, best luck i have had is in the channel. I have heard that there is a hole by the I-35 bridge but I have never been by it. Most of the lake is only 4-6 feet.
Didn’t they completely kill this lake off a couple years back??
No fish there don’t bother going! 
The lake is much cleaner than when I grew up there. I’ve been down a few times in recent years, and yes, as a previous post stated the Channel is a good bet from the Access off Front St. to the RR Bridge which is impassable.
The Deepest hole is under the Front St. Bridge at 12-14ft. Also as pre previous post the average depth is 5-6ft with some areas 3-4ft.
First time down a few years ago I crisscrossed the lake and nothing over 8ft and that was a few spots on either side of the I-35 Bridge.
Majority of people I found fishing were:
1) trolling with Planer Boards East of I-35.
2) shore fishing along the channel from the access to the RR Bridge.
3) shore fishing between the S.Shore Dr. Bridge and the Dam into the Shell Rock River.
I’ve. heard of guys fishing a couple of the points, (Names of which escape me) but never seen anyone fishing them.
Being a shallow basin, the Wind can screw up your day, Whitecaps really get whipped up there.
Rarely does anyone from Albert Lea post about the local lakes, they don’t want outsiders to know what they know.
There is a Sportsmans club in town and you might find information from them.
Last FREEZE OUT I heard was 2004 when they came back and stocked it up big time. I’ve heard reports but not seen photo evidence of some big girls coming from down there.
Back prior to 2000 I did see a photo of a 9lb Eye coming from Edgewater Bay on the upper Lake near Highway 13.
Good Luck and please post Photo’s and a log of your catches. 
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Opener? Albert Lea Lake? Gotta be kidding.
What branch of state government you work for?
Actually, we are in high school and have no money.. or time for that matter. Cant afford a guide so just lookin for a little help!
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I’m thinking you’re talking about Fountain Lake. It holds eyes, crappies and such.
Actually we are heading to Albert Lea Lake, i have heard that is better.. Do you disagree?
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Opener? Albert Lea Lake? Gotta be kidding.
What branch of state government you work for?
Actually, we are in high school and have no money.. or time for that matter. Cant afford a guide so just lookin for a little help!
I used to fish it from shore all the time when I lived in Austin. The channel where it opens up into the lake was hot or cold. If it was on, it was really pretty good with the occasional fish up to 6 Lbs (we saw pics of some larger approaching 10#). For us it was usually a jig and twister tail or stickbait bite.
I can’t comment on fishing it from a boat. Sorry. But the numbers of walleyes in that lake were VERY high when I fished it and I’m sure little has changed.
That is great to hear! thanks a lot James! are you familiar with some of the names different points and what not? I read an article that another spot is New York point. Not exactly were that is
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Opener? Albert Lea Lake? Gotta be kidding.
What branch of state government you work for?
Wow, you havent been around for a few years have you.
Truth is a couple years ago the DNR was touting this lake as one of the top 10 in MN.
Carroll is right, the last freeze out was in 2004. The DNR superstocked it with fry the following spring. I moved to Albert Lea in 2008 and the fishing was hot that spring and summer. 2009 was ok. 2010 sucked by my recall. The water clarity was really really good last summer and I think it shut the day bite down in the basin. 99% of the lake is less than 5 foot deep. The lake has gone thru some drastic water clarity swings in the last few years. This year is looking similar to 2008, pretty poor clarity, which I think will make the fishing pick-up again.
Some of the other lakes in Albert Lea are also worth checking out. Fountain has some awesome fish in it right now as well. I witnessed the DNR’s netting last summer and it will be a good multi-species lake. Saw some nice eyes, tons of channel cats, decent crappie, tons of gills, and the pike are picking up thanks to some a new stocking program.
Pickerel Lake, just west of AL, is also worth checking out if you like Pike/perch. In 2009 a fish barrier was installed on the outlet and the lake was killed off. It was restocked with pike fry/perch/gills. Some people might not believe this but those pike are now 30″. The lake went from 6″ of clarity to “see the bottom” clear in one season simply by killing off the carp. The water from Pickerel flows to Fountain via a creek so the turbid water was having a negative affect on Fountain. Now it is having a positive affect and Fountain is seeing some of the best water clarity on record (dating back to the 50’s).
Anyone else want to know anything about the area just ask. I am fortunate enough to be able to work on and improve these resources for the people of Albert Lea, who in 2004 had the wisdom to petition the state to start a Watershed District.
Fountain Lake eye from last October.
That is very good to hear , I grew up in the Lyle and Austin area and went fishing on those lakes a few times growing up , back then they were pretty dismal fisheries. I have friends and family in the area , so hopefully I can get together with them and check it out.
Met a freind of mine there for some fall fishing a couple of years ago. It is the perfect half way point for us . Stayed at the Meyre State Park. Big Island , very nice.
Long story short we where disapointed because of its featureless shallow bottom. 6 foot would be pushing it for depth, however before I went I had talked with Louis Robinson (from this site) over the phone and he told me to try New york point. We caught kazillions of nice fat perch on 3″ twister tails. I had 2 of my boys with and they fish quite a bit , they werte giggling at the number of perch.
Not much of a challenge though, fish in the shadow of the boat and you did not even get to reel because of the shallowness. Just lift them out.
Great perch also. Never did catch a walleye.
If Louis is out there he can surely answer your questions.
I head down and fish it quite a bit in the fall in the channel and i hit the basin during ice season. For me it has always been a hit/miss lake. Ive had days where ive had 100 fish days with 18″ being the average and had weeks were ive fished it daily and had 20 fish days with a 7″ average….Try the white twister with just about any color head, or a firetiger stick bait.
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