Okabena Lake

Okabena Lake is a reservoir in Nobles County, Minnesota. Okabena Lake covers about 776 acres, reaches a recorded 16 feet and holds about 5,084 acre-feet.

How the Size and Shape of Okabena Lake Affect Fishing

Okabena Lake has an old channel, incoming water and quiet coves, and small water-level changes can move fish from the bank to the first drop.

Fish and Baits at Okabena Lake

Fish reported from Okabena Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, fathead minnow, freshwater drum, golden shiner, green sunfish, iowa darter, johnny darter, largemouth bass, northern pike, orangespotted sunfish, pumpkinseed, shortnose gar, spottail shiner, tadpole madtom, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch.

Bass

For bass at Okabena, fish weeds, wood and shade with a spinnerbait, jig or Texas-rigged worm for largemouth.

Crappie, Yellow Perch, and Sunfish

For panfish at Okabena, use a small jig or minnow beside brush for crappie, and fish a worm, cricket or tiny jig near weeds for bluegill, pumpkinseed, and green sunfish, and keep a small jig, minnow or worm close to bottom for yellow perch.

Walleye

For roaming fish at Okabena, jig a minnow or troll a crankbait along points and deeper edges for walleye.

Northern Pike

For large predators at Okabena, cast a spoon, spinnerbait or swimbait beside weeds for northern pike.

Catfish, Bullheads, and Carp

For bottom fishing at Okabena, put cut bait, a nightcrawler or prepared bait on bottom for channel catfish, and fish a worm or small piece of cut bait in quiet water for bullheads, and use corn or dough bait on a simple bottom rig for carp.

Other Reported Fish

Other choices at Okabena include these plans: bounce a jig, worm or crayfish bait along firm bottom for freshwater drum.

How the Seasons Change Okabena Lake

Spring around Okabena is a good time to check warm coves and incoming water, and summer is a good time to fish shade, weeds and the first drop into deeper water. Fall around Okabena can bring fish back to windy points and banks, while winter calls for smaller baits fished slowly.

A Simple Plan for Fishing Okabena Lake

On a first trip to Okabena, check incoming water, one bend in the old channel and a point near deep water with a moving lure, then slow down with a jig or worm where you get a bite.

Useful Tackle for Okabena Lake

A medium spinning rod covers smaller lures at Okabena, while a heavier rod and stronger leader are better for northern pike.

Okabena Lake FAQs

Where should an angler start on the 776-acre Okabena Lake?

At Okabena, pick one cove and the closest point or drop into deep water, then fish that small area well before making a long move.

Should anglers fish the 16-foot deep end of Okabena Lake?

Not every trip. A better place at Okabena is where a point, drop-off or group of baitfish gives the fish a reason to stop.

What does the 5,084 acre-foot storage figure mean at Okabena Lake?

At Okabena, it shows that a lot of the water sits away from the bank and around the old channel or deep end.