Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 14, 2017
Carey Lake FishingCWater-quality grade C
Minnesota DNR surveys at Carey Lake average 6.60 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 6 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated August 14, 2017. In St. Louis County, Minnesota, Carey Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of C. Water clarity averages 4.9 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 Carey Lake
8 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 Carey 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 Carey 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 Carey Lake average 6.60 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 6 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated August 14, 2017.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Carey Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2017-08-14 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 7.10 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Crappie | 6.75 | 0.21 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 6.60 | 0.88 lb |
| White Sucker | 5.92 | 1.54 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.77 | 2.6 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
Black Crappie
White Sucker
Northern Pike
From the 2017-08-14 survey
Carey Lake is located within the Carey Lake Park and Recreation Area in Hibbing, Minnesota. The public access is located on the west side and there is a 10 hp outboard motor restriction on the lake. The lake has brown water due to tannins. The 2013 lake management plan (LMP) indicates Black Crappie, Northern Pike, and…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Carey Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CareyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Carey (1777)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CareyFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CareyPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Carey Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Carey Lake average 6.60 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 6 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated August 14, 2017. Minnesota DNR lists 8 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 Carey Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Carey Lake is dated August 14, 2017. 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 Carey Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Carey 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 Carey Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Carey Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. 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 Carey Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Carey Lake
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