Fishing in Fillmore County, Minnesota
Seat: Preston. Southern region.
- 1lakes
- 9accesses
- 45trout streams
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Root River: A. E. Crane, U.S. Department of Transportation, Public domain
The short version on Fillmore County
Fillmore County has its seat in Preston and sits in the Southern tourism region. Land in Fillmore County totals 861 square miles; water adds 0.8.
Lake anglers have 1 water here totaling 5 acres, Lanesboro Mill Pond first among them. The county has 9 public water accesses, 0 with trailer ramps. 45 county streams carry the DNR trout designation. Survey catch is on file for 1 lake here; walleye showed up in 1. Shore anglers have 4 DNR fishing piers and shore sites.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Lakes, accesses and piers in Fillmore County
Minnesota DNR access and fishing site layers and LakeFinder, checked October 2026.
Lakes in Fillmore County
| Lake | Acres | Max depth ft | Accesses | Walleye per gill net |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lanesboro Mill Pond | 5 | 10 | 0 | 0.4 |
DNR LakeFinder morphology, access layer and latest survey per lake.
Rivers and trout creeks in Fillmore County
- Root Riverriver, 12 accesses
- Iowa River, Upperriver
- Rush Creekcreek, designated trout stream
- Watson Creekcreek, designated trout stream
- Trout Run Creekcreek, designated trout stream
- Riceford Creekcreek, designated trout stream
- Camp Creekcreek, designated trout stream
- Willow Creekcreek, designated trout stream
- Wisel Creekcreek, designated trout stream
- Rice Creek, Fillmore Countycreek, designated trout stream
- Duschee Creekcreek, designated trout stream
- Mill Creekcreek, designated trout stream
- Lost Creekcreek, designated trout stream
- Gribben Creekcreek, designated trout stream
- Forestville Creekcreek, designated trout stream
- Canfield Creekcreek, designated trout stream
- Kedron Creekcreek, designated trout stream
- Spring Valley Creek near Wykoff, Fillmore Countycreek, designated trout stream
- Mahoods Creekcreek, designated trout stream
- Spring Valley Creek near Wykoff, Fillmore County, 0.1 micreek, designated trout stream
Fillmore County trout water
These 27 smaller designated trout streams have no page of their own; the trout and salmon stamp and stream trout seasons apply on each.
- Big Springs Creek3.6 mi, near Peterson
- Camp Hayward Creek1.4 mi, near Peterson
- Chickentown Creek0.6 mi, near Mabel
- Crystal Creek1.4 mi, near Preston
- Diamond Creek5 mi, near Whalan
- Diamond Creek, South Fork1 mi, near Whalan
- Etna Creek1.1 mi, near Ostrander
- Etna Creek, South Branch0.5 mi, near Ostrander
- Frego Creek2.4 mi, near Canton
- Gribben Creek0 mi, near Whalan
- Hallum Creek1.3 mi, near Peterson
- Hamilton Creek0.4 mi, near Racine
- Little Jordan Creek2.7 mi, near Wykoff
- Lynch Creek4.5 mi, near Chatfield
- Maple Creek3.9 mi, near Peterson
- Newburg Creek1.1 mi, near Mabel
- Partridge Creek1.7 mi, near Harmony
- Root River, Middle Branch1.4 mi, near Wykoff
- Root River, South Branch1.1 mi, near Preston
- Root River, South Fork0.2 mi, near Peterson
- Schueler Creek1.1 mi, near Rushford
- Schueler Creek0.3 mi, near Rushford
- Shady Creek2.2 mi, near Chatfield
- Shattuck Creek5.3 mi, near Whalan
- Torkelson Creek1.8 mi, near Whalan
- Vesta Creek3 mi, near Mabel
- Watson Creek0.1 mi, near Wykoff
River readings in Fillmore County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Root River Near Pilot Mound, Mn | 490 cfs, 8.58 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:00 pm |
| Root River Above Rushford, Mn | 9.88 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:00 pm |
| Rush Creek Near Rushford, Mn | -0.98 ft gage height | Nov 13 6:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 7:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
DNR designated trout stream layer.
Water accesses in Fillmore County
- Root River, Chatfield AccessRoot River, 1 ramp, 2 trailer stalls
- Root River, Hwy 16 AccessRoot River, 1 ramp, 10 trailer stalls, toilet
- Root River, Lanesboro Shorefishing AccessRoot River, 1 ramp, 2 trailer stalls
- Root River, Moen's Bridge AccessRoot River, 1 ramp, 2 trailer stalls
- Root River, Parsley Bridge AccessRoot River, 1 ramp, 8 trailer stalls, toilet
- Root River, Peterson AccessRoot River, 1 ramp, 6 trailer stalls
- Root River, Preston AccessRoot River, 1 ramp, 1 trailer stalls
- Root River, Rushford AccessRoot River, 1 ramp, 5 trailer stalls
- Root River, Whalan AccessRoot River, 1 ramp, toilet
Fillmore County fishing piers (4)
- Camp Creek Fishing Siteshore fishing site,
- Lanesboro – Bass Pond Fishing Pierfishing pier, Lanesboro Mill Pond
- Root River Shore Fishing Siteshore fishing site,
- Spring Valley Creek Fishing Sitebank fishing site,
Minnesota DNR Public Water Access Sites and Public Fishing Sites.
Statewide limits in Fillmore County
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | 6 combined total (only 1 walleye over 20" in possession) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike (Southern Zone) | 2 (minimum size 24") | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike (Southern Zone) | 2 (minimum size 24") | Nov. 15, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 except where prohibited |
| Largemouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 22, 2026 |
| Largemouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass (when smallmouth season is open) | May 23, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 22, 2026 |
| Smallmouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass | May 23 – Sept. 13, 2026 |
| Smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | Sept. 14, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Crappie | 10 combined total | Continuous |
| Sunfish | 20 combined total | Continuous |
| Yellow perch | 20 daily, 40 in possession | Continuous |
| Muskellunge | 1 (minimum size 54") | June 6 – Nov. 30, 2026 |
| Channel catfish | 5 (only 1 over 24") | Continuous |
| Rock bass | 30 | Continuous |
| Cisco (tullibee) | 15 (over 7") | Continuous |
| Burbot (eelpout) | 4 | Continuous |
| Stream trout | Catch-and-release only | Jan. 1 – April 10, 2026 |
| Stream trout | 5 combined total (only 1 over 16") | April 11 – Sept. 14, 2026 |
| Stream trout | Catch-and-release only | Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, 2026 |
| Stream trout | Closed to fishing | Oct. 16 – Dec. 31, 2026 |
| Stream trout | Catch-and-release only | Jan. 1 – April 9, 2027 |
Preston sits in the Southern Zone, which sets the pike and bass rows shown.
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations; lake pages show any special regulation.
Bait shops and guides in Fillmore County
Shops in Fillmore County
- Root River Rod Cobait and tackle shop, Lanesboro
- The Driftless Fly Fishing Companyfly shop,
What sits close to Fillmore County
Places to stay in Fillmore County
- Chatfieldpop. 2,997
- Spring Valleypop. 2,447
- Rushfordpop. 1,860
- Prestonpop. 1,322
- Harmonypop. 1,043
- Rushford Villagepop. 790
- Lanesboropop. 724
- Mabelpop. 716
- Wykoffpop. 432
- Fountainpop. 409
- Cantonpop. 310
- Petersonpop. 234
- Ostranderpop. 231
- Whalanpop. 67
Across the line from Fillmore County
- Winona County26 miles northeast
- Olmsted County27 miles northwest
- Houston County30 miles east
- Mower County33 miles west
Fish to look for at Fillmore County
Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Eric Engbretson for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Fillmore County questions with short answers
How many public accesses are in Fillmore County?
9 public accesses, with 0 trailer launches.
Which lake is Fillmore County best known for?
Lanesboro Mill Pond, 5 acres.
How many trout streams does Fillmore County have?
45 designated trout streams, listed above.
What zone covers Fillmore County for pike?
Around Preston, the Southern Zone sets the pike and bass rows.
Which shops sell tackle in Fillmore County?
Root River Rod Co and others, 2 in all.
Can I book a guide or launch in Fillmore County?
No guide lists the county; the guides page has the rest.
Has the DNR surveyed lakes in Fillmore County?
1 surveyed lakes, 1 of them with walleye.
Which town governs Fillmore County?
It is Preston.
How much is a Minnesota license in Fillmore County?
Minnesota residents 16 to 89 need an angling license ($25 for the year); nonresidents 16 and older pay $51. Designated trout water takes a Minnesota angling license ($25 resident, $51 nonresident) and the $10 trout and salmon stamp validation for ages 18 to 64.
Plan the route through Fillmore County
Pick a lake, access or pier above.