Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest September 22, 1987
Curtis Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Curtis Lake average 134.58 black bullhead per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 1 survey. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated September 22, 1987. In Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota, Curtis 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 4.0 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.
Stocking at Curtis 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 Curtis 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 Curtis Lake average 134.58 black bullhead per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 1 survey. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated September 22, 1987.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Curtis Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 4 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: 1987-09-22 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 134.58 | 0.15 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 27.34 | 0.17 lb |
| Common Carp | 19.00 | 1.13 lb |
| White Sucker | 0.42 | 0.41 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 1987-09-22 survey
CARP, BULLHEAD AND GREEN SUNFISH.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Curtis Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CurtisFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CurtisFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CurtisPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Curtis Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Curtis Lake average 134.58 black bullhead per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 1 survey. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated September 22, 1987. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Curtis Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Curtis Lake is dated September 22, 1987. 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 Curtis Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Curtis 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 Curtis 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 Curtis Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 4 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 Curtis Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Curtis Lake
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