Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest September 16, 2025
Bowstring Lake FishingCWater-quality grade C
Minnesota DNR surveys at Bowstring Lake average 14.81 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 29 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated September 16, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–24 inches. In Itasca County, Minnesota, Bowstring Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of C. Water clarity averages 8.0 feet of visibility, and there are 5 public boat landings. 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 Bowstring Lake
17 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 Bowstring Lake
No stocking record for Bowstring Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is an absence in the published record, not a confirmation that the lake is unstocked — some waters are managed as naturally reproducing and never appear in a stocking list at all.
Getting on the water
5 public boat landings are recorded on Bowstring 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 Bowstring Lake average 14.81 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 29 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated September 16, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–24 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Bowstring Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
29 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-09-16 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Redhorse | 19.00 | 5.11 lb |
| Walleye | 14.81 | 1.07 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 14.25 | 0.29 lb |
| Spottail Shiner | 6.48 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 6.45 | 1.74 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.80 | 1.35 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.
Walleye
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
From the 2025-09-16 survey
Bowstring Lake is located 12 miles northwest of Deer River, Minnesota. Fall, night electrofishing was conducted to sample young-of-the-year (YOY) Walleye. The survey was the first since adult zebra mussels were found in 2020. The surface water temperatures and weather were good for sampling young Walleye. Water levels…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bowstring Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BowstringFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Bowstring (0668)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BowstringPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Bowstring Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Bowstring Lake average 14.81 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 29 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated September 16, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–24 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 17 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 Bowstring Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Bowstring Lake is dated September 16, 2025. 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 Bowstring Lake stocked?
No stocking record for Bowstring Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is not the same as a confirmed unstocked lake: it means no stocking document was published for it in the records this page draws on.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Bowstring Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Bowstring Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 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 Bowstring Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Bowstring Lake
Planning a trip to Bowstring Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Bowstring Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.