Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 11, 2022
Species recorded at Caribou Lake
7 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 Caribou 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 Caribou Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 11, 2022 caught 0.67 largemouth bass per gill net at Caribou Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Caribou Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-11 (Targeted Survey).
8 surveys on file · most recent 2022-07-11 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 7.18 | 4–6 in 2022-07-11 | 0.1 lb |
| Rock Bass | 3.46 | 5–10 in 2022-07-11 | 0.3 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.34 | 6–12 in 2022-07-11 | 0.18 lb |
| Lake Trout | 2.91 | 7–32 in 2022-07-11 | 3.06 lb |
| Walleye | 1.67 | 2.52 lb | |
| Smallmouth Bass | 1.46 | 6–17 in 2022-07-11 | 1 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.
Bluegill
Rock Bass
Yellow Perch
Lake Trout
From the 2022-07-11 survey
Caribou Lake is located about six miles south of Marcell and in the Chippewa National Forest. Fish production is limited due to low fertility associated with oligotrophic conditions. Caribou Lake has a long history of trout management and has been primarily managed for Lake Trout since 1942. Management has consisted…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Caribou Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CaribouFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Caribou (0342)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CaribouFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CaribouPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Caribou Lake?
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 11, 2022 caught 0.67 largemouth bass per gill net at Caribou Lake. Minnesota DNR lists 7 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 Caribou Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Caribou Lake is dated July 11, 2022. 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 Caribou Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Caribou 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 Caribou Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Caribou Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is stable. 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 Caribou Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Caribou Lake
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