Willard

Willard Lake (11-564; Lake Class 21) has a total surface area of 7.4 acres and a shoreline length of 0.43 miles. A county owned carry-in public access is located on the north shore of the lake. Willard Lake is one of five lakes in the Walker Fisheries Management Area designated as a stream-trout lake and stocked annually with rainbow trout. The other designated stream-trout lakes in the Walker Management Area are Diamond, Hazel, Perch, and Teepee. The trout population in Willard Lake depends upon stocking because rainbow trout do not naturally reproduce in this lake. No rainbow trout were captured in 2008; however, black crappie and yellow perch were sampled for the fifth consecutive year. Because of the abundance of yellow perch and black crappie in this lake, it is likely that rainbow trout stocking will be discontinued.

Willard Lake (11-564; Lake Class 21) has a total surface area of 7.4 acres and a shoreline length of 0.43 miles. A county owned carry-in public access is located on the north shore of the lake. Willard Lake is one of five lakes in the Walker Fisheries Management Area designated as a stream trout lake and stocked annually with rainbow trout. The trout population in Willard Lake depends upon stocking because rainbow trout do not naturally reproduce in this lake. One rainbow trout was captured in 2005; however, several black crappie and yellow perch were sampled. The mean length of rainbow trout sampled was 12 inches. Both black crappie and yellow perch were the result of unpermitted introductions. Since 1998, Fisheries personnel have been sampling zooplankton, the tiny animals on which Willard Lake rainbow trout feed. The quantity of zooplankton available in Willard Lake is relatively low and biologists are currently investigating the annual fluctuation in trout survival by examining the food supply.

Willard Lake (11-0564-00 Lake Class 21) has a total surface area of 7.4 acres and a shoreline length of 0.43 miles. A county owned carry-in public access is located on the north shore of the lake. Willard Lake is one of five lakes in the Walker Fisheries Management Area designated as a stream trout lake and stocked annually with rainbow trout. The trout population in Willard Lake depends upon stocking because rainbow trout do not naturally reproduce in this lake. Prior to 2006, DNR staff had stocked Willard Lake with fingerling trout in the fall, but beginning in 2006, a switch was made to spring stocking with yearlings in an effort to improve trout survival. Six rainbow trout were captured in the 2006 DNR sampling. The mean length of these trout was 12.8 inches, and they ranged from 11.7 to 13.5 inches. Black crappie ranging from 5 to 9 inches were caught in DNR nets. Yellow perch from 5 to 9 inches were also caught. The presence of black crappie and yellow perch was the result of illegal stocking, which may well have a negative impact on the rainbow trout population. Since 1998, Fisheries personnel have been sampling zooplankton, the tiny animals on which Willard Lake rainbow trout feed. The quantity of zooplankton available in Willard Lake is relatively low and biologists are currently investigating the annual fluctuation in trout survival by examining the food supply.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, and Rainbow Trout in Willard. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Willard has a maximum depth of 39 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Willard is from 2008. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

No invasive species are on record for Willard in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.