Considering that the Hutchinson area is only about an hour’s drive from the Twin Cities, it has a surprising variety of fishing available to the eager angler. With the exception of muskies and trout, most of the desirable species anglers seek can be found within a 20-mile drive from Hutchinson. The following is a list of lakes and their most abundant fish.

1. Marion
Located seven miles south of Hutchinson with access on east side, Lake Marion is one of the hottest lakes at present, but is not a consistent lake. The lake was last stocked in 1992 with more than 400,000 walleye fry and more than 4,000 yearling channel catfish. There is a large variety of fish including bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye and yellow perch. There is a fishing pier in the county park but most shore anglers are arrayed along the east shore. Access is easy via blacktop State Highway 15.

2. Belle
Located five miles northwest of Hutchinson with access off Belle Lake Road in McLeod County. Test netting reveals an above average population of walleyes. Piepenburg Park is on the southeast end of Belle and provides camping facilities.

3. Minni Belle
This is a very clear lake, with a Secchi depth of 18.5, at least three times the depth of most lakes in the area. It is highly developed and is popular with water skiers and personal watercraft users. Try crack of dawn fishing for more privacy.

Northern pike and largemouth bass fishing is good, but the lake is primarily known for big bluegills. Try the tip of the point on the east side. Access is an easy few miles west of State Highway 22 approximately seven miles south of Litchfield. There is also a new northeast side fishing pier and nature walk — just follow the road skirting the east edge of the lake.

4. Ripley
This lake is known primarily as a bass and northern pike lake, but an occasional large walleye is caught. For bass fishing, try plastic worms in the brushes on the north side of the lake and run shallow running rattlebaits over the weedbeds in the southwest corner. Small northern pike are quite abundant. Access is easy via Highway 22 immediately at the south edge of Litchfield, where a landing and camping facilities are found. There is also a landing and park on the west side of the lake.

5. Stella
This is the deepest lake in the area at 75 feet and, along with Manuella, is one of the only area lakes known for smallmouth fishing.

Walleye fishing can be good, with big fish being hooked mostly at night. One of the most successful methods has been trolling original floating Rapalas behind a sinker. You can go by small boat from Stella to Washington, but watch your head because there’s not much clearance. There is an access on the southeast side off County Road 14.

6. Washington
One of the larger lakes in the area, Washington is known for its walleye fishing. Although the walleye population is high, recently the angling has been erratic. Washington also has a good population of panfish and largemouth bass. The main access is on the south side off County Road 207.

7. Erie
This is a small, peaceful lake with only moderate development. Access is at the south end. The gravel road leading to it off blacktop County Road 18 is very easy to miss, so keep your eyes open for the brown access sign. Bass fishing is good, but the bass tend to be smaller than from other lakes. Try the east side of the island, rip the north side flats with lipless crankbaits, and bounce worms off the docks. There are very few northern pike, but bluegill are fairly abundant. Like Ripley, this is a sleeper walleye lake.

8. Jennie
Jennie is one of those variable lakes that can run hot or cold. It has a shallow featureless basin that lacks vegetation in the summer. There are times when panfishing can be excellent. The lake has been heavily stocked with walleyes and provides good, but fluctuating success. Access is at the north end by gravel, approximately one mile east off State Highway 15.

9. Swan
Swan, near Silver Lake, is one of those “frying pan” aerated lakes with a little slope at the edges and a flat bottom only 10 feet deep. The netting tests of walleye, though, are high with walleye numbers running third behind crappie and bullheads. Shallow lakes like this can frustrate a boat fisherman because walleyes sometimes scatter when the boat approaches. Either fish from shore and let the fish come to you, or try planer boards. There are two access sites: a county concrete ramp on the north side and a concrete DNR ramp on the southeast side.