Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 10, 2021
Benedict Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Benedict Lake average 15.79 bluegill per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated August 10, 2021. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 2–9 inches. In Hubbard County, Minnesota, Benedict Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 11.5 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 Benedict Lake
16 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 Benedict 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 Benedict Lake average 15.79 bluegill per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated August 10, 2021. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 2–9 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Benedict Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-08-10 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 37.25 | — |
| Bluegill | 15.79 | 0.25 lb |
| Rock Bass | 8.33 | 0.32 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 7.81 | 0.41 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.
Bluegill
Rock Bass
Tullibee (Cisco)
From the 2021-08-10 survey
Benedict Lake (29-0048-00) is a 464.37-acre lake with a maximum depth of 41 feet located near Benedict, MN. Park Rapids Fisheries staff conducted a survey targeting near shore fish species on August 10, 2021, to assess populations of non-game and small sport fish. Ten 100-foot sampling sites were evenly spaced around…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Benedict Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BenedictFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BenedictFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BenedictPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Benedict Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Benedict Lake average 15.79 bluegill per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated August 10, 2021. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 2–9 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 16 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 Benedict Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Benedict Lake is dated August 10, 2021. 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 Benedict Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Benedict 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 Benedict Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Benedict Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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 Benedict Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Benedict Lake
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