Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 31, 2023
Barrett Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Barrett Lake average 8.70 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 31, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–28 inches. In Grant County, Minnesota, Barrett Lake has no letter grade — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Water clarity averages 4.0 feet of visibility, and there is one public boat landing. The survey figures on this page are Minnesota DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Species recorded at Barrett Lake
23 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
- bigmouth buffalo
- black bullhead
- black crappie
- bluegill
- bowfin (dogfish)
- brown bullhead
- common carp
- freshwater drum
- green sunfish
- hybrid crappie
- hybrid sunfish
- largemouth bass
- longnose gar
- northern pike
- orangespotted sunfish
- pumpkinseed
- rock bass
- shorthead redhorse
- walleye
- white crappie
- white sucker
- yellow bullhead
- yellow perch
Stocking at Barrett Lake
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for this lake — which species went in, how many, and in which years. Read the years: a lake stocked in one year is not necessarily stocked in the next.
Getting on the water
1 public boat landing is recorded on Barrett Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Barrett Lake average 8.70 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 31, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–28 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Barrett Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-31 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 24.26 | 0.13 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 14.08 | 0.59 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 12.78 | — |
| Walleye | 8.70 | 1.7 lb |
| Spottail Shiner | 6.30 | — |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Yellow Perch
Black Bullhead
Walleye
From the 2023-07-31 survey
Barrett Lake is a 530-acre impoundment of the Pomme de Terre River. The earliest available records of dam construction date back to 1936. The City of Barrett developed along the west and south shorelines. Maximum depth of the lake is 28.0 feet. Average depth is estimated at 8.5 feet. Water quality measurements…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Barrett Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BarrettFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BarrettFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BarrettPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Barrett Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Barrett Lake average 8.70 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 31, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–28 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 23 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Barrett Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Barrett Lake is dated July 31, 2023. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Barrett Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Barrett Lake. It records which species were released, in what numbers and in which years — the source documents are linked further down this page. A lake can be stocked in some years and not others, so read the years rather than assuming an annual release.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Barrett Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Barrett Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class — a lake can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Barrett Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Barrett Lake
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