Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest September 19, 2025
Fish Trap Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Fish Trap Lake average 23.15 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 26 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated September 19, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 3–17 inches. In Morrison County, Minnesota, Fish Trap Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 9.7 feet of visibility, and there are 2 public boat landings. 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 Trap Lake
18 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 Trap 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
2 public boat landings are recorded on Fish Trap 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 Fish Trap Lake average 23.15 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 26 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated September 19, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 3–17 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Fish Trap Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
26 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-09-19 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 23.15 | 0.88 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 20.50 | — |
| Bluegill | 15.95 | 0.15 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
From the 2025-09-19 survey
Fish Trap Lake is a 1,164 acre lake located near Lincoln, Minnesota. The lake has 13.12 miles of shoreline, a maximum depth of 42 feet, and a littoral area of 404 acres. A state-owned public access is on the northwest portion of the lake. Primary management species include Northern Pike and Walleye. Secondary…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Fish Trap Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Fish TrapFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Fish Trap (1916)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Fish TrapFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Fish TrapPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Fish Trap Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Fish Trap Lake average 23.15 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 26 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated September 19, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 3–17 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 18 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 Trap Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Fish Trap Lake is dated September 19, 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 Fish Trap Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Fish Trap 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 Trap Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Fish Trap Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 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 Trap Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Fish Trap Lake
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