Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 29, 2024
Species recorded at Esquagamah Lake
14 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 Esquagamah 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 Esquagamah Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 29, 2024 caught 6.08 walleye per gill net at Esquagamah Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–25 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Esquagamah Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-29 (Targeted Survey).
11 surveys on file · most recent 2024-07-29 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Crappie | 21.61 | 4–11 in 2024-07-29 | 0.23 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 15.14 | 4–8 in 2024-07-29 | 0.11 lb |
| Bluegill | 11.85 | 3–8 in 2024-07-29 | 0.25 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 10.10 | 9–19 in 2024-07-29 | 1.45 lb |
| Walleye | 4.79 | 10–25 in 2024-07-29 | 1.38 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and 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 Crappie
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
From the 2024-07-29 survey
Esquagamah Lake is located 10 miles west of Palisade and is a popular destination for many anglers in western Aitkin County. There is a state-owned public access with concrete log ramp located just off of Aitkin County Road 3. The lake supports a wide variety of habitats that are conducive to several species of game…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Esquagamah Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — EsquagamahFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Esquagamah (0095)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — EsquagamahFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — EsquagamahPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Esquagamah Lake?
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 29, 2024 caught 6.08 walleye per gill net at Esquagamah Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–25 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 14 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 Esquagamah Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Esquagamah Lake is dated July 29, 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 Esquagamah Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Esquagamah 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.
Do the water-quality readings tell me how Esquagamah Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Esquagamah Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
Water-quality readings are 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 with clear, low-nutrient water can still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Esquagamah Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Esquagamah Lake
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