Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest May 8, 2023
Species recorded at Beseau Lake
14 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 Beseau 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's Standard Survey on June 6, 2022 caught 2.25 walleye per gill net at Beseau Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Beseau Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-05-08 (Targeted Survey).
13 surveys on file · most recent 2023-05-08 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 33.02 | 12 in 2023-05-08 | 0.36 lb |
| Bluegill | 25.85 | 4–8 in 2022-06-06 | 0.2 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 10.65 | 9–13 in 2022-06-06 | 1.11 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 9.06 | 12–13 in 2022-06-06 | 0.52 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 8.17 | 5–8 in 2022-06-06 | 0.19 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 5.43 | 4–8 in 2022-06-06 | 0.19 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and 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
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Brown Bullhead
From the 2023-05-08 survey
Bijou (Beseau) Lake is a 210-acre lake located in western Becker County. The agricultural watershed, marginal water quality, and continuing shoreline development make it susceptible to winterkill. Bijou Lake has experienced a light winterkill in 2004, a moderate winterkill in 2001, and a severe winterkill in 1994.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Beseau Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BijouFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BijouFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BijouPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Beseau Lake?
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 6, 2022 caught 2.25 walleye per gill net at Beseau Lake. Minnesota DNR lists 14 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 Beseau Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Beseau Lake is dated May 8, 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 Beseau Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Beseau 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.
Do the water-quality readings tell me how Beseau Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Beseau Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
Water-quality readings are 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 with clear, low-nutrient water can still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Beseau Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Beseau Lake
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