Fishing near Bloomington, Minnesota
Hennepin County, population 89,987.
- 1 mileto nearest lake
- 10accesses nearby
Pick for walleyePiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo: Bjoertvedt, CC BY-SA 3.0
Close-to-home fishing in Bloomington
The 2020 Census lists 89,987 people in Bloomington, a Hennepin County city. The closest listed lake is Penn Lake, about 1 mile to the north. For a boat, try Penn Lake Access, 1 mile away.
Hyland Lake led nearby lakes in the last DNR walleye catch, at 4.25 per gill net. Trout anglers can reach the Eagle Creek, East Branch, 5 miles off. Fishing piers are close too: Hyland Lake Fishing Pier is 3 miles away.
For the walleye herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Lake days out of Bloomington
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Walleye per gill net |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn Lake | 1 mile north | 44 | 7 | |
| Hyland Lake | 3 miles west | 84 | 12 | 4.25 |
| Centennial Lake | 3 miles north | 6 | 9 | |
| Smith Pond | 3 miles northeast | 7 | 16 | |
| Bush Lake | 3 miles west | 171 | 28 | |
| Cornelia Lake | 4 miles north | 53 | 6.5 |
River days out of Bloomington
- Eagle Creek, East Branch5 miles, designated trout stream
- Eagle Creek5 miles, designated trout stream
- Minnehaha Creek14 miles
- Vermillion River15 miles, designated trout stream
- Rice Creek, Anoka County27 miles
Straight-line distances from the Census point for Bloomington; DNR LakeFinder data.
Map of fishing spots near Bloomington
- Penn Lake AccessPenn, 1 mile
- Minnesota River, MN Valley Refuge – Russel AccessMinnesota River, 2 miles
- Normandale Lake AccessNormandale, 3 miles
- Hyland Lake, Park Reserve AccessHyland, 3 miles
- West Bush Lake Park AccessBush, 3 miles
- Minnesota River, Cedar AccessMinnesota River, 4 miles
- Lake Nokomis AccessNokomis, 7 miles
- Blackhawk Lake AccessBlackhawk, 7 miles
- Bryant Lake, Regional Park AccessBryant, 7 miles
- Lake Harriet AccessHarriet, 7 miles
Pier fishing close to Bloomington
- Hyland Lake Fishing PierHyland, 3 miles
- Bush Lake Fishing Pier, Hennepin CountyBush, 3 miles
- Smith Lake Fishing PierSmith Pond, 3 miles
- Bush Lake Fishing Pier, West Bush Lake Park Public Water Access SiteBush, 3 miles
- Corneila Lake Fishing PierCornelia, 4 miles
- Hog Back Ridge Ponds Fishing SiteUnnamed, 4 miles
Flow near Bloomington
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota River (port Cargill Harbor) In Savage,mn | 87.42 ft gage height | Oct 19 8:00 pm |
| Minnesota River At Fort Snelling State Park, Mn | 686.94 ft gage height | Oct 19 8:15 pm |
| Minnehaha Creek At Hiawatha Ave. In Minneapolis,mn | 5 cfs, 11.98 ft gage height | Oct 19 8:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 19, 2026 8:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Stocking up in Bloomington
Tackle stops on the way to Bloomington
- DICK'S Sporting Goods Richfieldsporting goods store, Richfield, 2 miles
- Fish N Stylebait and tackle shop, Savage, 4 miles
- Perfecta By Marina Stejarmarina, Eden Prairie, 5 miles
- Windwalker Marina at Cape Hazemarina, Minneapolis, 6 miles
- Eden Prairie SCHEELSsporting goods store, Eden Prairie, 6 miles
- DICK'S Sporting Goods Burnsvillesporting goods store, Burnsville, 6 miles
- Lake Nokomis Sailboat Buoysmarina, Hennepin, 7 miles
- Orvisbait and tackle shop, Saint Louis Park, 7 miles
Statewide limits near Bloomington
| 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 | 5 combined total (only 1 over 16") | April 11 – Sept. 30, 2026 |
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations; pike and bass rows for the Southern Zone by the town position.
Around Bloomington, up close
Overnight bases for Bloomington
- Richfield3 miles
- Edina5 miles
- Burnsville5 miles
- Savage5 miles
Counties surrounding Bloomington
- Hennepin Countyseat: Minneapolis
Pictures of water close to Bloomington
Photo: Joe Passe, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ben Franske ( BenFranske ) ( BenFranske at en.wikipedia ), CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Tony Webster from Portland, Oregon, United States, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: William Wesen ( Appraiser at English Wikipedia ), Public domain
Bloomington anglers ask
Which lake page lies closest to Bloomington?
Penn Lake, 1 mile north.
Which landing lies nearest Bloomington?
Penn Lake Access, 1 mile away.
Can kids fish from a pier near Bloomington?
The nearest is Hyland Lake Fishing Pier at 3 miles.
Which tackle shop is nearest Bloomington?
Start at DICK'S Sporting Goods Richfield.
Where is walleye fishing near Bloomington?
Hyland Lake, 4.25 walleye per gill net in its last DNR survey.
Which Minnesota county is Bloomington in?
Hennepin County, Minnesota.
Is there stream trout fishing close to Bloomington?
Try the Eagle Creek, East Branch (5 miles).
Which zone sets pike rules around Bloomington?
Going by where Bloomington sits, the Southern Zone applies; lake pages note any special regulation.
Is there a 3-day license for Bloomington visitors?
A 72-hour nonresident license is $36; a week is $43.
Begin a lake day in Bloomington
Every lake, access and pier above has its own page.