Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest May 6, 2024
Carnelian Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Carnelian Lake average 20.46 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 6, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–18 inches. In Stearns County, Minnesota, Carnelian Lake has no letter grade — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Water clarity averages 12.0 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 Carnelian Lake
13 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 Carnelian 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 Carnelian 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 Carnelian Lake average 20.46 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 6, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–18 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Carnelian Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-05-06 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 91.39 | 0.19 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 26.89 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 20.46 | 0.76 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 10.86 | 0.1 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
Bluntnose Minnow
Largemouth Bass
Green Sunfish
From the 2024-05-06 survey
A targeted Bluegill and Black Crappie assessment was conducted on Carnelian Lake from May 6-10, 2024. This assessment was conducted to update data last collected in a 2016 survey and to get an idea of the size structure of the spawning Bluegills and Black Crappie. Carnelian Lake has had special regulations restricting…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Carnelian Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CarnelianFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CarnelianFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CarnelianPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Carnelian Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Carnelian Lake average 20.46 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 6, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–18 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 13 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 Carnelian Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Carnelian Lake is dated May 6, 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 Carnelian Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Carnelian 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 Carnelian Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Carnelian Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 6 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
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 Carnelian Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Carnelian Lake
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