Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 7, 2010
Fish Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Fish Lake average 3.40 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 7, 2010. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 17–36 inches. In Pine County, Minnesota, Fish 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 6.0 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.
Stocking at Fish 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.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Fish Lake average 3.40 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 7, 2010. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 17–36 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Fish Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is declining. 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: 2010-06-07 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 22.01 | 0.35 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 10.48 | 0.22 lb |
| Black Crappie | 9.16 | 0.25 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.52 | 0.12 lb |
| Bluegill | 5.89 | 0.21 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.40 | 3.35 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.
Black Bullhead
Yellow Bass
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
From the 2010-06-07 survey
Fish Lake is a moderately fertile 82 acre basin located in Pine County on the west side of the town of Finlayson. The shoreline surrounding the lake has minimal development with most of the shoreline made up of undeveloped mixed hardwood forest, marshland, and grassland. The fishery is managed primarily for northern…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Fish Lake. 3 reports 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
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Fish (0344)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — FishFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Fish Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Fish Lake average 3.40 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 7, 2010. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 17–36 inches. 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 June 7, 2010. 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?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Fish 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 Fish 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 Fish Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 2 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
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
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