Albert Lea Lake

[geokarjo]

According to Hugh Valiant, the Department of Natural Resources' fisheries supervisor for the southern region that includes this lake, there have been some water-quality issues that have been addressed, and now Albert Lea Lake is drastically improving in that regard. While anglers do like to fish lakes where there is some decent visibility and deeper weed growth, their top priority is whether there are fish to be caught.

"We have been stocking walleyes in Albert Lea, and the numbers couldn't be better," Valiant said. "In our last survey, there were 85 walleyes per gill net. And the fish are in great shape."

Valiant explained that growth rates in the southern Minnesota lakes result in quality fishing.

"The walleyes in these highly fertile lakes grow fast, and they get big." he said. "This lake has never received the fishing pressure it deserves, but once anglers discover there are a lot of walleyes, that will change."

Albert Lea fits the definition of pot-hole lake. In its 2,600 acres you'll be hard-pressed to find water over 6 feet deep. With no structure to key on, anglers must use search techniques like trolling crankbaits and casting jigs until they connect with a pod of walleyes, then they drop anchor and pitch out the slip-bobbers.

The other 7 lakes are; Lake Elysian, Lake of the Woods, Basswood Lake, Upper Red Lake, Lake Winnibigoshish, Pelican Lake and Lake Minnetonka.