Little Mud

Little Mud is a small-sized lake (37 acres) located south of the City of Watkins in Meeker County. A moderate-sized private access with gravel parking and a single cement boat ramp is available on the west shore. There is no charge for parking or using the boat ramp. Little Mud has approximately one mile of shoreline and a maximum depth of forty-two feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Little Mud is a class 30 lake and other similar waterbodies in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Little Swan and Dunns Lakes in Meeker County. Little Mud's 2025 lake management plan listed Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout as primary management species, while Largemouth Bass and Bluegill were secondary species. Rainbow Trout will be stocked annually (1,000 yearlings every spring and 2,000 yearlings every fall). Brown Trout are stocked annually (300 adults every fall). The lake is managed as a put-and-take trout fishery. Netting was completed in 2025 to monitor fish population recovery following the 2023 partial winterkill and to assess the lake's habitat suitability for stream trout management. Fish populations can fluctuate greatly depending on the frequency and severity of winterkill at Little Mud Lake. Bluegill and Black Crappie were stocked in 2023, while Bluegill and Largemouth Bass were stocked in 2024. If you are fishing for trout at Little Mud Lake, a Trout and Salmon stamp is required in addition to your regular fishing license. Little Mud Lake is best known for its Rainbow Trout fishing, while Brown Trout were added to the mix during the winter of 2024 to 2025. Only one Rainbow Trout (12-inches long) was gill netted in 2025, but this species does not always sample well in the nets. Catching trout can be as easy as drifting around the center of the lake with half of a nightcrawler on a hook - six feet below the bobber and a sinker. The Bluegill that were stocked in 2024 spawned successfully, and a good-sized year class of fast-growing fish was sampled in 2025. Trap netted Bluegill were still small, but the age-1 fish averaged an impressive 5-inches in length. Largemouth Bass typically do not sample well in nets, but several 11-inch long fish were captured. Moderate numbers of Black Crappie were collected, but most were small (5 inches long). The longest crappie sampled was almost 9 inches. Additional fishes sampled in the 2025 nets included Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish and Pumpkinseed. Little Mud Lake's summer oxygen and temperature surveys indicated that trout habitat suitability in mid-summer is not ideal for stream trout management. The desired lower water temperatures, which trout (a cold-water species) prefer, often lacked adequate oxygen levels during mid-summer. High summer water temperatures caused excessive stress on trout, but trout were able to survive the mid-summer heat in both 2024 and 2025. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Overharvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. Little Mud Lake has the AIS Eurasian watermilfoil. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local MNDNR office. Additional information on all these topics can be found on the MNDNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.

Little Mud Lake was primarily managed as a Rainbow Trout put and take fishery, but fishing opportunities also exist for Largemouth Bass, Sunfish, and occasionally Crappie. The lake is not a "designated" stream trout lake. A Largemouth Bass population estimate (PE) was conducted at Little Mud Lake beginning on May 20, 2019 and ending on June 6, 2019, with four different days being sampled. Daytime electrofishing was used to capture Largemouth Bass, which were then measured and given a fin clip for the mark/recapture population estimate. All fish were released back into the lake. A total of 3.1 hours of electrofishing occurred, sampling 114 Largemouth Bass (including recaptured fish). The average catch rate was 36.9/hour of electrofishing. Measured Largemouth Bass were 8.0 to 21.1 inches long averaging 15.2 inches. Approximately 83% of the catch was 12 inches or longer, 50% was 15 inches or longer, and 24% were 18 inches and longer, indicating a high quality population. The PE for fish of all lengths was estimated to be 627 fish or 16.8 fish/acre. The PE for 12 inch and longer fish was estimated to be 437 fish or 11.7 fish/acre. Bass anglers could expect some quality fishing on this little 37 acre lake.

Little Mud Lake was primarily managed as a Rainbow Trout put and take fishery, but fishing opportunities also exist for Largemouth Bass, Sunfish, and occasionally Crappie. The lake is not a "designated" stream trout lake. A Largemouth Bass population estimate (PE) was conducted at Little Mud Lake beginning on May 20, 2019 and ending on June 6, 2019, with four different days being sampled. Daytime electrofishing was used to capture Largemouth Bass, which were then measured and given a fin clip for the mark/recapture population estimate. All fish were released back into the lake. A total of 3.1 hours of electrofishing occurred, sampling 114 Largemouth Bass (including recaptured fish). The average catch rate was 36.9/hour of electrofishing. Measured Largemouth Bass were 8.0 to 21.1 inches long averaging 15.2 inches. Approximately 83% of the catch was 12 inches or longer, 50% was 15 inches or longer, and 24% were 18 inches and longer, indicating a high quality population. The PE for fish of all lengths was estimated to be 627 fish or 16.8 fish/acre. The PE for 12 inch and longer fish was estimated to be 437 fish or 11.7 fish/acre. Bass anglers could expect some quality fishing on this little 37 acre lake.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Yellow Perch, Pumpkinseed, Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, and Rainbow Trout in Little Mud. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Little Mud has a maximum depth of 42 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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