Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest May 16, 2023
Bella Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Bella Lake average 12.80 white crappie per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 5 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 16, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–12 inches. In Nobles County, Minnesota, Bella Lake has no letter grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Water clarity averages 1.0 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 Bella Lake
12 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 Bella 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 Bella 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 Bella Lake average 12.80 white crappie per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 5 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 16, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–12 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 Bella Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-05-16 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Fathead Minnow | 2857.14 | — |
| Black Bullhead | 47.47 | 0.19 lb |
| Common Carp | 14.35 | 2.65 lb |
| Bigmouth Buffalo | 12.90 | 4.7 lb |
| White Crappie | 12.80 | 0.36 lb |
| Freshwater Drum | 5.07 | 0.9 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.
Black Bullhead
Common Carp
Bigmouth Buffalo
White Crappie
From the 2023-05-16 survey
Bella Lake is a 182-acre reservoir located 8 miles south of the City of Worthington, in Nobles County. On a year with average water level fluctuations, the lake has a maximum depth of 14 ft. Bella Lake serves as an aquifer replenishment reservoir for Worthington municipal water supplies, and thus has substantial water…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bella Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BellaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BellaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BellaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Bella Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Bella Lake average 12.80 white crappie per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 5 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 16, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–12 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 12 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 Bella Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Bella Lake is dated May 16, 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 Bella Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Bella 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 Bella 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 Bella Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. 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 Bella Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Bella Lake
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