Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest October 28, 2024
Species recorded at Esther Lake
3 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 Esther 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 Esther 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 October 28, 2024 caught 0.50 rainbow trout per trap net at Esther Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Esther 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: 2024-10-28 (Targeted Survey).
11 surveys on file · most recent 2024-10-28 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fathead Minnow | 19.89 | ||
| White Sucker | 6.20 | 10–16 in 2024-10-28 | 1.02 lb |
| Brook Trout | 2.88 | 2.09 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.
White Sucker
From the 2024-10-28 survey
Esther Lake is a small, 78-acre lake with a maximum depth of 35 ft and is located approximately 15 miles northwest of Hovland. There is a small boat access and a couple of camp sites located on the northeast side of the lake. Esther Lake is a designated stream trout lake and has been actively stocked with rainbow…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Esther Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — EstherFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Esther (1836)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — EstherFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — EstherPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Esther Lake?
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on October 28, 2024 caught 0.50 rainbow trout per trap net at Esther Lake. Minnesota DNR lists 3 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 Esther Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Esther Lake is dated October 28, 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 Esther Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Esther 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 Esther Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Esther 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 Esther Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Esther Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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