Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 13, 2022
German Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at German Lake average 7.60 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 13, 2022. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–17 inches. In Becker County, Minnesota, German Lake has no letter grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). The lake has public access. 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 German 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 German 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
Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at German Lake average 7.60 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 13, 2022. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–17 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 German Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-06-13 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 25.12 | 0.26 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 11.03 | 0.16 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 8.98 | 0.39 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 7.60 | 1.42 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 7.31 | 0.61 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 5.80 | 1.72 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 Perch
Black Bullhead
Largemouth Bass
From the 2022-06-13 survey
Buffalo Lake is a 376-acre, class 25 lake located in central Becker County near the community of Richwood. It is long and narrow with one bay extending north to the southern boundary of the White Earth Indian Reservation. Although it lies near the headwaters of the Buffalo River, it is the furthest downstream major…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for German Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BuffaloFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Buffalo (1213)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BuffaloFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BuffaloPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in German Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at German Lake average 7.60 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 13, 2022. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–17 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 German Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for German Lake is dated June 13, 2022. 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 German Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for German 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 German 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 German Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. 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 German Lake
Top-rated places to stay near German Lake
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