Wills
A 66-acre lake near Lutsen in Cook County — best known for walleye and panfish. Last surveyed 1988.
Fish Species (4)
Walleye
Above-normal numbers · average-size fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Sep 1988
Last surveyed 1988 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 14.3 per gill net · typical 2.3–9.6 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 1988 | 14.33 | - | 1.13 lbs |
| Jul 10, 1972 | 12.00 | - | 1.41 lbs |
Yellow Perch
Typical numbers · large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Sep 1988
Last surveyed 1988 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 7.3 per gill net · typical 3.3–18.3 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 1988 | 7.33 | - | 0.40 lbs |
| Jul 10, 1972 | 14.00 | - | 0.17 lbs |
Northern Pike
Below-normal numbers · small fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Sep 1988
Last surveyed 1988 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 1.7 per gill net · typical 3–9 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 1988 | 1.67 | - | 0.55 lbs |
| Jul 10, 1972 | 9.00 | - | 1.67 lbs |
Other species in this lake (1)
Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.
White Sucker
Typical numbers · average-size fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Sep 1988
Last surveyed 1988 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 21.0 per gill net · typical 5.3–22.1 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 1988 | 21.00 | - | 1.68 lbs |
| Jul 10, 1972 | 10.67 | - | 2.63 lbs |
Biologist Notes
September 1, 1988WILLS LAKE HAS A STRONG, NATURALLY REPRODUCING WALLEYE POPULATION, WITH AN EXCELLENT SIZE DISTRI- BUTION. WALLEYE GROWTH RATES ARE ALSO GOOD. AGE 0 WA…
WILLS LAKE HAS A STRONG, NATURALLY REPRODUCING WALLEYE POPULATION, WITH AN EXCELLENT SIZE DISTRI- BUTION. WALLEYE GROWTH RATES ARE ALSO GOOD. AGE 0 WALLEYE TAKEN IN THIS ASSESSMENT AVERAGED 7.2 INCHES IN LENGTH, SHOWING OUTSTANDING EARLY GROWTH THE YELLOW PERCH POPULATION IS ALSO STRONG WITH FAIR NUMBERS OF 10-12 INCH FISH AVAILABLE FOR ANGLERS. WHITE SUCKER ARE VERY ABUNDANT, BUT THIS HAS APPARENTLY NOT ADVERSELY AFFECTED GAMEFISH POPULATIONS.
July 10, 1972Wills Lake is a good Walleye Lake with various sizes including small fish indicating good natural reproduction. There is also a good N Pike pop. and l…
Wills Lake is a good Walleye Lake with various sizes including small fish indicating good natural reproduction. There is also a good N Pike pop. and large Sucker and Perch population.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fish can you catch in Wills?
Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Yellow Perch, and Northern Pike in Wills. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.
Is there public access at Wills?
Minnesota DNR records list public access for Wills. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.
How deep is Wills?
Wills has a maximum depth of 6 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.
When were the main sport fish in Wills last surveyed?
The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Wills is from 1988. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.
Does Wills have any invasive species?
No invasive species are on record for Wills in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.
More lakes in Cook County
View allLake Details
- Surface Area
- 65.69 acres
- Max Depth
- 6 ft
- Shoreline
- 1.83 mi
- Public Access
- Yes