Smith fishing

Smith fishing is stocked with Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike on a natural lake. It is stocked about 4 times a year since 2022, most often in January. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout and Northern Pike, dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and Largemouth Bass, and dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye.

Illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
January 1, 2025
637 days ago · Walleye
Plants on record
16
Since 2022
Species recorded
3

Fish at Smith

3 stocked · 2 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 8 plants · last January 1, 2025 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked January 1, 2025 · 8 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Brown Trout Stocked · 4 plants · last January 1, 2025 Best: dawn, day, dusk

Last stocked January 1, 2025 · 4 plants

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Brown Trout species guide
Walleye Stocked · 4 plants · last January 1, 2025 Best: dawn, dusk, night

Last stocked January 1, 2025 · 4 plants

Best: dawn, dusk, night

Walleye species guide
Largemouth Bass Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk

Best: dawn, dusk

Listed in the DNR LakeFinder fish-community record for Smith Lake; not present in the stocking feed for this lake. (maps.dnr.state.mn.us, accessed September 29, 2026)

Largemouth Bass species guide
Northern Pike Confirmed present Best: dawn, day, dusk

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Listed in the DNR LakeFinder fish-community record for Smith Lake; not present in the stocking feed for this lake. (maps.dnr.state.mn.us, accessed September 29, 2026)

Northern Pike species guide

How Smith is stocked

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

The first plant of the year usually falls in the first week of January. In 2025 it was January 1, 2025, about when it usually is.

Fish stocked in 2022

367,100

Fish stocked in 2023

185,100

Fish stocked in 2024

185,100

Fish stocked in 2025

184,900

Stocking history

Showing 5 of 16 plants Showing 16 plants

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
January 1, 2025 Walleye 182,000 – report
January 1, 2025 Rainbow Trout 1,600 – report
January 1, 2025 Rainbow Trout 800 – report
January 1, 2025 Brown Trout 500 – report
January 1, 2024 Walleye 182,000 – report
January 1, 2024 Rainbow Trout 1,000 – report
January 1, 2024 Rainbow Trout 1,600 – report
January 1, 2024 Brown Trout 500 – report
January 1, 2023 Walleye 182,000 – report
January 1, 2023 Rainbow Trout 1,600 – report
January 1, 2023 Rainbow Trout 1,000 – report
January 1, 2023 Brown Trout 500 – report
January 1, 2022 Walleye 364,000 – report
January 1, 2022 Rainbow Trout 1,000 – report
January 1, 2022 Rainbow Trout 1,600 – report
January 1, 2022 Brown Trout 500 – report
Show all 16 plants + Show less

Access and facts

Water type
natural lake
Nearest town
Nelson, MN
Boat ramp
Yes

MN DNR LakeFinder lists an open DNR concrete/boat access on the northeast side of Smith Lake off Smith Lake Road SE. Nearest town on the DNR record is Nelson.

View larger map · Open in Google Maps · Directions

Nearest lakes

Victoria 4.4 mi last stocked January 1, 2025 Burgen 4.6 mi last stocked January 1, 2025 Geneva 5.2 mi last stocked January 1, 2025 Le Homme Dieu 7.4 mi last stocked January 1, 2025 Osakis 7.9 mi last stocked January 1, 2025

Common questions

What fish are at Smith?

Fishing Smith usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 8 of 16 plants on record, ahead of Brown Trout and one more. Rainbow Trout was last stocked January 1, 2025. Brown Trout was last stocked January 1, 2025. Walleye was last stocked January 1, 2025. Largemouth Bass (Listed in the DNR LakeFinder fish-community record for Smith Lake; not present in the stocking feed for this lake) and Northern Pike (Listed in the DNR LakeFinder fish-community record for Smith Lake; not present in the stocking feed for this lake) are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Smith stocked?

Last stocked January 1, 2025. It is stocked about 4 times a year since 2022, most often in January. The first plant of the year usually falls in the first week of January. In 2025 it was January 1, 2025, about when it usually is.

How do you get on Smith?

There is a boat ramp. The nearest town is Nelson, MN. MN DNR LakeFinder lists an open DNR concrete/boat access on the northeast side of Smith Lake off Smith Lake Road SE. Nearest town on the DNR record is Nelson.

Sources (2) +