Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 2, 2025
Emily Lake FishingDWater-quality grade D
Minnesota DNR surveys at Emily Lake average 10.89 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated June 2, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–18 inches. In Pope County, Minnesota, Emily Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of D. Water clarity averages 2.0 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 Emily Lake
26 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.
- bigmouth buffalo
- black bullhead
- black crappie
- bluegill
- brown bullhead
- channel catfish
- common carp
- freshwater drum
- greater redhorse
- hybrid crappie
- hybrid sunfish
- largemouth bass
- northern pike
- orangespotted sunfish
- pumpkinseed
- quillback
- redhorse
- river redhorse
- rock bass
- shorthead redhorse
- walleye
- white bass
- white crappie
- white sucker
- yellow bullhead
- yellow perch
Stocking at Emily 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 Emily 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 Emily Lake average 10.89 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated June 2, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–18 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Emily Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-02 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Fathead Minnow | 32.18 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 10.89 | 1.59 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 7.39 | 1 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 7.07 | — |
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.
Largemouth Bass
Black Bullhead
From the 2025-06-02 survey
Lake Emily is a shallow 2,377-acre, highly-productive basin located in southwestern Pope County with a maximum depth of 6 feet. Despite being shallow, winterkill events have been rare. Groundwater exchange, springs, and combined stream flows from the Little Chippewa River and Lake Minnewaska help sustain adequate…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Emily Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — EmilyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — EmilyFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — EmilyPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Emily Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Emily Lake average 10.89 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated June 2, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–18 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 26 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 Emily Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Emily Lake is dated June 2, 2025. 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 Emily Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Emily 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 Emily Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Emily Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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 Emily Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Emily Lake
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