West Graham

West Graham is a 515-acre lake located approximately 8 miles southeast of the city of Fulda in Murray County. West Graham Lake is a class 43 lake that has a maximum depth of 8.0 feet. The substrate is characterized as having a sand and gravel border with muck and detritus in the deeper water areas. The watershed-to-lake ratio (watershed acres-to-lake acres) is 21-to-1 indicating medium to large watershed draining into the lake. The lake is connected to several lakes including Fulda and East Graham and fish movement can take place among the lakes. West Graham is managed primarily for Walleye while Black Crappie and Yellow Perch are managed secondarily. West Graham Lake was stocked with Lower Mississippi strain Walleye (LMS) fry in 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023, and 2024 to expand this strain of Walleye locally. Prior to 2015, the Lower Mississippi strain was last stocked decades ago, but has persisted in several area lakes despite extensive stocking of Mississippi strain Walleye. A daytime electrofishing survey was conducted on September 12, 2025 to determine if natural reproduction occurred. Age-0 Walleye were captured at a rate of 2.7 per hour in 2025, indicating that natural reproduction did occur but it was limited. Age-0 Walleye ranged in length from 5.5 to 6.0 inches and averaged 5.7 inches. Age-1 Walleye were captured at a rate 4.0 per hour. Age-1 Walleye ranged in length from 8.1 to 9.2 inches and averaged 8.1 inches. It is unlikely that a year class was produced in 2025.

Minnesota DNR Fisheries IBI program staff conducted an assessment of lakeshore habitat on West Graham Lake on June 01, 2023, following the Score the Shore survey protocols. The assessment consisted of 30 survey sites evenly spaced 200 meters around the lake. Assessments were made in three habitat zones: Shoreline Zone (the shore-water interface to the top of the natural bank), Shoreland Zone (land-ward from shoreline to development structure or 100 feet), and Aquatic Zone (lake-ward 50 feet of shoreline). The average lakewide habitat score was 90.0 (+/- 2.9) out of 100 possible. A score of 90.0 indicates the lakewide shoreline condition is High (85-92). Approximately 53 percent of the sites were developed with a mean score of 81.7 (+/- 4.5) indicating shoreline habitat quality of developed sites is Moderately High (80-85), while undeveloped sites had a mean score of 99.5 (+/- 0.5) with Excellent (92+) habitat quality.

Minnesota DNR Fisheries IBI program staff conducted an assessment of lakeshore habitat on West Graham Lake on June 01, 2023, following the Score the Shore survey protocols. The assessment consisted of 30 survey sites evenly spaced 200 meters around the lake. Assessments were made in three habitat zones: Shoreline Zone (the shore-water interface to the top of the natural bank), Shoreland Zone (land-ward from shoreline to development structure or 100 feet), and Aquatic Zone (lake-ward 50 feet of shoreline). The average lakewide habitat score was 90.0 (+/- 2.9) out of 100 possible. A score of 90.0 indicates the lakewide shoreline condition is High (85-92). Approximately 53 percent of the sites were developed with a mean score of 81.7 (+/- 4.5) indicating shoreline habitat quality of developed sites is Moderately High (80-85), while undeveloped sites had a mean score of 99.5 (+/- 0.5) with Excellent (92+) habitat quality.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Channel Catfish, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Walleye, and Bluegill in West Graham. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

West Graham has a maximum depth of 8 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in West Graham is from 2022.

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