Parley

Parley is a 258-acre (231 littoral acres) lake with a maximum depth of 18 feet. Parley is located northeast of the City of Waconia in central Carver County. Parley is primarily managed for Bluegill and crappie but includes catchable populations of Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Walleye. Public water access (concreate ramp; up to 4 vehicle/trailer parking spaces) is located on the southwest side of the lake off of State Highway 5 and Parley Lake Road and is maintained by DNR Parks and Trails. A Standard Survey (9 trap nets/6 gill nets) was conducted on Parley Lake during the week of 6/09/2025 to monitor water characteristics and fish populations. Water color was brown/green, with moderate water clarity, measured at 9.5 feet during the time of this survey. Dissolved oxygen fell to two parts per million at 18 feet, meaning fish would be unable to use water depths greater than 18 feet during mid-summer. Eurasian Watermilfoil has been identified in Parley Lake and remains present, providing a good reminder of the clean, drain, dispose law which helps to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species: Clean all aquatic plants, zebra mussels, and other invasive species from boats, trailers, and water-related equipment. Drain water from your boat, ballast tanks, motor, live well and bait container. Remove drain plugs and keep drain plugs out while transporting equipment. Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash. To keep live bait, drain the water and refill the bait container with bottled or tap water. Moderate numbers of Bluegill were sampled with trap nets (28.4/net) near the expected catch rate of similar lakes. There were 256 Bluegill sampled in trap nets during the 2025 survey, with an average length of 6.0 inches and the largest measured at 8.7 inches. Size structure was balanced (an intermediate between high numbers of small fish and few numbers of large fish). Parley Lake is one of seven lakes in the West Metro Area (Hennepin, Carver, Scott Counties) included in the state-wide Quality Sunfish Initiative or QSI regulation (https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fish/sunfish/index.html). This special regulation was implemented in spring 2021 and reduced the daily bag limit from 20 fish to 5 for Bluegill in an effort to protect and improve the existing population. Early results show a positive impact from the reduced bag limit with noticeable increases to Bluegill size structure. Low numbers of Black Crappie were sampled with trap nets (0.9/net) and gill nets (4.3/net) near the low end of the expected catch rate. There were 34 Black Crappie sampled during the 2025 survey, with an average length of 7.9 inches and the largest measured at 15.3 inches. Despite low catch rates, size structure remains balanced. Parley Lake is one of seven lakes in the West Metro Area (Hennepin, Carver, Scott Counties) included in the special regulation (implemented in spring 2021) that reduced the Black Crappie daily bag limit from 10 fish to 5 in an effort to protect and improve the existing population. While numbers were low during summer sampling, the presence of 15"+ fish is an encouraging sign for the Black Crappie fishery. Largemouth Bass were historically present in Parley Lake, although targeted boat-electrofishing did not occur during the 2025 survey. Zero bass were Incidentally sampled with trap and gill nets. High numbers of Northern Pike in Parley Lake were sampled with gill nets (17.0/net), well above the expected catch rate of similar lakes. The 2025 netting represents the highest catch rate of Northern Pike in Parley Lake in the previous 30 years. There were 102 Northern Pike sampled in gill nets, with an average size of 23.0 inches and the largest measured at 35.3 inches. Despite exceptionally high catch rates, Northern Pike size structure remains at desirable levels, providing excellent angling opportunity (high numbers of fish, large sizes). Moderate numbers of Walleye were sampled with gill nets (1.3/net), near the expected catch rate of similar lakes. Average length of Walleye sampled in gill nets was 19.8 inches with the largest measured at 26.0 inches. Despite recent fry stocking (2023 and 2024) following the winterkill of 2022-2023, little return of Walleye was observed in sampling gear, with 8 total Walleye netted during 2025. Despite low numbers and inconsistent stocking, the size structure remains balanced. Much of the current Walleye population may be attributed to migrants from Minnetonka via 6-mile creek. Other fish species sampled during the survey include Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Bowfin, Common Carp, Pumpkinseed, White Crappie, Yellow Bullhead, and Yellow Perch.

Parley Lake is a 242-acre lake with a maximum depth of 18 feet. Parley is located northeast of the City of Waconia in central Carver County. Public water access is provided by the DNR on the southwest side of the lake near the intersection of County road 30 and Parley Lake Rd (up to 6 vehicle/trailer parking spaces). Parley is primarily managed for Walleye, Black Crappie, and Bluegill, but supports catchable populations of Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike. A Standard Survey (gill nets and trap nets) was conducted on Lake Parley during the week of 6/29/2020 to assess the fishery. During the 2020 survey, Parley was highly productive (green stained water), with poor water clarity, measured at 2.0 feet during the time of this survey. Dissolved oxygen was zero parts per million (ppm) below 10 feet during the survey period. Eurasian Watermilfoil was confirmed present in Parley Lake in 2001 and remains present. Walleye in Parley Lake are maintained through fry stocking in even numbered years. During the 2020 survey Walleye were sampled at historically high numbers (5.5/net), above the expected catch rate of similar lakes in the area. There were 33 Walleye sampled in gill nets, with an average size of 20.0 inches and the largest measured at 23.8 inches. Size indices show a balanced population (an intermediate between high numbers of small fish and few numbers of large fish). Growth rates were fast compared to the statewide average, with an average length of 17.2 inches by age 4. High catch rates and large sizes should provide excellent angling opportunity for Walleye on Parley Lake. Largemouth Bass are present in Lake Parley, although targeted boat-electrofishing did not occur during the 2020 survey due to COVID-19 sampling restrictions. Incidental capture with trap and gill nets caught 6 Largemouth Bass, with an average length of 14.6 inches and the largest measured at 17.1 inches. Northern Pike were sampled with gill nets (8.5/net) near the expected catch rate for similar lakes in the area. Although catch rates were down from the previous high in 2015 (12.7/net), size structure has increased substantially from 2015. The average length of Northern pike sampled in 2020 increased over 4 inches since the last survey in 2015. There were 50 Northern Pike sampled in gill nets, with an average size of 25.8 inches, with the largest measured at 31.9 inches. Although lacking the largest individuals (34"+), moderate numbers likely keep competition low, allowing Northern Pike to grow fast, reaching desirable sizes. Record high numbers of Bluegill were sampled with trap nets (104.9/net). There were 839 Bluegill sampled in trap nets during the 2020 survey, the highest catch rate in the previous 25 years. Bluegill averaged 6.4 inches, with the largest measured at 8.9 inches. Bluegill are growing fast until age 5 (about 7 inches), after which there is a large drop in the number of age 6 (7+") fish sampled. While some of this could be attributed to natural mortality, it is likely that angler harvest plays a large part in the number of 7+" BLG available. High harvest mortality, fast growth, and the potential for large sizes has led us to recommend Parley lake as part of the Quality Panfish Initiative which would place a 5 bag limit on panfish (beginning spring 2021) in an effort to increase their overall size structure. Black Crappie were sampled with gill nets (15.3/net) and trap nets (18.0/net), near their expected catch rate. There were 236 Black Crappie sampled during the 2020 survey, with an average length of 8.3 inches, with the largest measured at 10.9 inches. Black Crappie are cyclical spawners with the ability to produce large year classes of offspring given the right environmental conditions. Over 70% of Black Crappie sampled came from two year classes (age 2 - 34%) and (age 4 - 38%). Despite these large year classes, growth remained fast with an average length of 7.2 inches at age 2, and an average length of 8.9 inches by age 4. Similar to Bluegill, when Black Crappie reach desirable sizes (9+") they are immediately removed from the system. Parley Lake will also have a reduced 5 bag limit on Black Crappie (beginning spring 2021) in an effort to improve Black Crappie size structure. Other fish species sampled in low abundances were Black Bullhead, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.

Parley Lake is a 257-acre Class 38 lake with a maximum depth of 18 feet. The lake is located northeast of Lake Waconia, near the town of Saint Bonifacius. The majority of shoreline surrounding Parley is undeveloped; most of the eastern shoreline is part of Three Rivers Park District's Carver Park. A DNR Parks and Trails-owned boat ramp is located on the southwest corner of the lake. Parley Lake is primarily managed for Walleye and Black Crappie. Healthy populations of Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and Bluegill are also present in the lake. Walleye fry are stocked every other year. Parley is connected to Lake Minnetonka via Six Mile Creek, and fish likely move between the two systems. In 2015, a Standard Fisheries Survey was conducted to assess the game fish populations. Parley Lake's Walleye population was found to be mostly older, larger individuals. These fish were moderately abundant (1.5 fish per gill net, with average size 20.9 inches and 3.19 pounds. Seventy-eight percent of the fish were larger than 20 inches, with the largest Walleye measuring 22.8 inches. Ages 5 through 13 were present in the sample, with most of the fish aged 5  7 years. Black Crappie were caught at a rate of 9.8 per trap net and 3.8 per gill net, near the median for this Lake Class. Size structure of the fish skewed small. Twenty-six percent of the trap-netted and 39% of the gill-netted crappie exceeded 8 inches. Only one fish exceeded 10 inches. Average size of sampled Black Crappie was 6.2 inches and 0.15 pounds. The largest fish measured 10.0 inches and 0.49 pounds. Northern Pike were highly abundant in Parley Lake, and of quality size. The fish were caught at a rate of 12.7 per gill net, exceeding the 75th percentile for this Lake Class. The average size of gill-netted fish was 21.4 inches and 2.76 pounds. Fifty-four percent of the fish exceeded 21 inches, and 16% exceeded 28 inches. The largest Northern Pike measured was 34.4 inches and 10.10 pounds. Bluegill Sunfish were caught at a rate of 47.2 per trap net, a value between the median and 75th percentile for this Lake Class. The average size of Bluegill was 6.6 inches and 0.23 pounds. Seventy-three percent of the fish were larger than 6 inches; 11% of trap netted-bluegills were 7.5 inches and larger. The largest fish measured 8.1 inches and 0.47 pounds. Largemouth Bass are not vulnerable to the gill nets and trap nets used during Standard Surveys. However, Nighttime boat electrofishing was conducted on Parley Lake during September 2012 to sample the Largemouth Bass population. A total of 180 Largemouth Bass were sampled in 4 electrofishing transects, producing 107.4 bass per hour of on-time. The size structure of the Largemouth Bass population reflected smaller-sized fish. Largemouth Bass averaged 8.5 inches and 0.46 lbs. The largest bass sampled was 18.5 inches long and 3.9 lbs. Fish from the 2005 through 2011 year classes were present, indicating consistent reproduction and recruitment. Largemouth Bass reached an average length of 14.6 inches by age 5 and 17.9 inches by age 7. Abundant Yellow Perch were sampled in the gill nets. The catch rate of 26.0 fish per net exceeded the 75th percentile for this Lake Class. The fish tended to be small; only 9% of the sampled fish exceeded 8 inches. The average length was 6.7 inches and 0.20 pounds. Other species sampled in low abundance included Black Bullhead, Bowfin (dogfish), Common Carp, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, hybrid sunfish, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Walleye, Hybrid Sunfish, Green Sunfish, and Largemouth Bass in Parley. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Parley. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Parley has a maximum depth of 18 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Parley is from 2025.

Yes — Parley has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.