Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 12, 2024
Bowen Lake FishingCWater-quality grade C
Minnesota DNR surveys at Bowen Lake average 28.18 yellow perch per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 12, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–9 inches. In Cass County, Minnesota, Bowen Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of C. Water clarity averages 13.7 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 Bowen 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 Bowen 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 Bowen 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 Bowen Lake average 28.18 yellow perch per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 12, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–9 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Bowen Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-06-12 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 83.21 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 28.18 | 0.13 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.
Yellow Perch
From the 2024-06-12 survey
Bowen Lake (DOW # 11-0350, Lake Class 31) is 176-acres with a maximum depth of 25 feet and 49 littoral acres (less than 15 feet deep) located one mile southeast of Backus, Minnesota. Bowen Lake is on the Pine River a state Water Trail Canoe Route. There is a Minnesota DNR-owned public access on the south shore a half…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bowen Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BowenFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Bowen (1466)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BowenFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BowenPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Bowen Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Bowen Lake average 28.18 yellow perch per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 12, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–9 inches. 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 Bowen Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Bowen Lake is dated June 12, 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 Bowen Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Bowen 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 Bowen Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Bowen Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is declining. 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 Bowen Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Bowen Lake
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