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Roy Lake

Roy Lake is a reservoir in Minnesota, near Mahnomen County.

Live lake forecast

Roy Lake Fishing Weather

National Weather Service
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Fish species in Roy Lake

Roy Lake near 47.3174, -95.5518 is a reservoir in Mahnomen County, Minnesota. Roy Lake covers about 689 acres, reaches a recorded 18 feet and holds about 6,600 acre-feet.

How the Size and Shape of Roy Lake Affect Fishing

Roy 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 Roy Lake

Fish reported from Roy Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, blacknose shiner, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, brook stickleback, brown bullhead, central mudminnow, common carp, green sunfish, iowa darter, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tadpole madtom, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch.

Bass

For bass at Roy Lake, fish weeds, wood and shade with a spinnerbait, jig or Texas-rigged worm for largemouth, and work a tube, Ned rig or small crankbait across rock and firm points for smallmouth.

Crappie, Yellow Perch, and Sunfish

For panfish at Roy Lake, 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 Roy Lake, jig a minnow or troll a crankbait along points and deeper edges for walleye.

Northern Pike

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

Bullheads and Carp

For bottom fishing at Roy Lake, 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.

Rock Bass

At Roy Lake, use a small jig, worm or tiny crankbait around rock and firm shorelines for rock bass.

How the Seasons Change Roy Lake

Spring around Roy Lake 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 Roy Lake can bring fish back to windy points and banks, while winter calls for smaller baits fished slowly.

A Simple Plan for Fishing Roy Lake

On a first trip to Roy Lake, 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 Roy Lake

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

Roy Lake FAQs

Where should an angler start on the 689-acre Roy Lake?

At Roy Lake, 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 18-foot deep end of Roy Lake?

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

What does the 6,600 acre-foot storage figure mean at Roy Lake?

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

Check the evidence

Sources and what they establish

Source dates describe the evidence, not a live catch forecast. Check the managing authority before planning access or keeping fish.

  • Black Bullhead — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Black Crappie — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Blacknose Shiner — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Bluegill — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Bluntnose Minnow — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Brook Stickleback — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Brown Bullhead — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Central Mudminnow — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Common Carp — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Green Sunfish — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Iowa Darter — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Largemouth Bass — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Northern Pike — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Pumpkinseed — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Rock Bass — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Smallmouth Bass — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Tadpole Madtom — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Walleye — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • White Sucker — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Yellow Bullhead — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Yellow Perch — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

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