Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest September 30, 2024
Bean Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Bean Lake average 4.00 smallmouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated September 30, 2024. In Lake County, Minnesota, Bean Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 9.8 feet of visibility, and the lake has public access. 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 Bean Lake
3 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.
Stocking at Bean 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
Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Bean Lake average 4.00 smallmouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated September 30, 2024.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Bean Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-09-30 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| White Sucker | 86.29 | 0.44 lb |
| Fathead Minnow | 5.00 | — |
| Smallmouth Bass | 4.00 | 0.25 lb |
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.
White Sucker
From the 2024-09-30 survey
Bean Lake is a 32-acre designated trout lake located entirely within Tettegouche State Park. It is stocked with 2,000 Splake fingerlings in the fall of odd numbered years and 1,000 Rainbow Trout yearlings each spring. There is an access with a concrete log ramp at the end of a rocky spur of the Red Dot ATV trail…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bean Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BeanFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Bean (0770)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BeanFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BeanPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Bean Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Bean Lake average 4.00 smallmouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated September 30, 2024. Minnesota DNR lists 3 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 Bean Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Bean Lake is dated September 30, 2024. 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 Bean Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Bean 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 Bean Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Bean Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 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 Bean Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Bean Lake
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