Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 12, 2023
Circle Lake FishingFWater-quality grade F
Minnesota DNR surveys at Circle Lake average 27.02 black crappie per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 12, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–8 inches. In Rice County, Minnesota, Circle Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of F. Water clarity averages 1.5 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 Circle Lake
18 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 Circle 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 Circle 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 Circle Lake average 27.02 black crappie per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 12, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–8 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Circle Lake F 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
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-06-12 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 124.08 | 0.4 lb |
| Black Crappie | 27.02 | 0.29 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 23.71 | 0.2 lb |
| Common Carp | 7.96 | 3.86 lb |
| Bluegill | 6.70 | 0.24 lb |
| Freshwater Drum | 5.18 | 0.97 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.
Black Bullhead
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
Common Carp
From the 2023-06-12 survey
Circle Lake is an 838-acre lake located in Rice County northeast of Shieldsville. The lake has a maximum depth of 14 feet. There are three islands on Circle Lake, one of which is designated as an Aquatic Management Area by the MN DNR. A DNR-maintained public access is located on the northwest end of the lake. A public…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Circle Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CircleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CircleFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CirclePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Circle Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Circle Lake average 27.02 black crappie per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 12, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–8 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 18 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 Circle Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Circle Lake is dated June 12, 2023. 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 Circle Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Circle 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 Circle Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Circle Lake F 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 Circle Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Circle Lake
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