Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 14, 2008
Fish Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Fish Lake average 4.23 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 14, 2008. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–33 inches. In Otter Tail County, Minnesota, Fish Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 18.0 feet of visibility. 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 Fish Lake
17 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 Fish Lake
No stocking record for Fish Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is an absence in the published record, not a confirmation that the lake is unstocked — some waters are managed as naturally reproducing and never appear in a stocking list at all.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Fish Lake average 4.23 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 14, 2008. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–33 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Fish 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
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2008-07-14 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 20.23 | 0.16 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 4.73 | 0.7 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.23 | 1.31 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 4.05 | 0.27 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 2.32 | 1.13 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.30 | 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.
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.
Bluegill
Yellow Bass
Northern Pike
Hybrid Sunfish
From the 2008-07-14 survey
Fish Lake is a 267-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in northwest Otter Tail County nine miles northeast of Pelican Rapids, MN. A portion of Fish Lake is also referred to as Bass Lake. Fish Lake is connected to Pelican Lake by a navigable channel. The immediate watershed is composed of mixed hardwood…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Fish Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FishFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Fish Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Fish Lake average 4.23 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 14, 2008. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–33 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 17 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 Fish Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Fish Lake is dated July 14, 2008. 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 Fish Lake stocked?
No stocking record for Fish Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is not the same as a confirmed unstocked lake: it means no stocking document was published for it in the records this page draws on.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Fish Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Fish 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 Fish Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Fish Lake
Planning a trip to Fish Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Fish Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.