Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 25, 1989
Crane Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Crane Lake average 3.85 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 1 survey. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 25, 1989. In Otter Tail County, Minnesota, Crane Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 9.0 feet of visibility, and the lake has public access. 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.
Stocking at Crane 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.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Crane Lake average 3.85 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 1 survey. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 25, 1989.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Crane Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1989-07-25 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 11.11 | 0.18 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 9.46 | 0.43 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 5.67 | 0.68 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.85 | 1.15 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 3.04 | 0.42 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 1.73 | 0.23 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.
From the 1989-07-25 survey
Northern pike abundance was 5.5 per gill net lift. Average weight of northern pike was 1.5 lbs. Pike reproduction appears good, as the sample consisted of age-classes II+ through V+. Bluegill abundance was 18.9 per trap net lift, which is below the area median. Five percent of the bluegills were 7.0 inches or greater…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Crane Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CraneFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CraneFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Crane Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Crane Lake average 3.85 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 1 survey. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 25, 1989. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Crane Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Crane Lake is dated July 25, 1989. 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 Crane Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Crane 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 Crane Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Crane Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. 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 Crane Lake
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