Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 10, 2024
German Lake FishingFWater-quality grade F
Minnesota DNR surveys at German Lake average 38.12 bluegill per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 13 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 10, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 2–9 inches. In Le Sueur County, Minnesota, German Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of F. Water clarity averages 3.5 feet of visibility, and there is one public boat landing. 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
19 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
1 public boat landing is recorded on German 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 German Lake average 38.12 bluegill per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 13 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 10, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 2–9 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades German Lake F from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-06-10 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 38.12 | 0.19 lb |
| White Crappie | 20.96 | 0.26 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 17.04 | 0.71 lb |
| Black Crappie | 13.12 | 0.26 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 9.29 | 0.17 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
White Crappie
Black Bullhead
Black Crappie
From the 2024-06-10 survey
German Lake is an 899-acre lake located in southern Le Sueur County. A DNR-owned public access is located on the north side of the lake off Le Sueur County Road 12. A public fishing pier is located on the west side of the lake near the outlet of East Jefferson Lake. Maximum depth at German Lake is 51 feet and 66% of…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for German Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GermanFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — GermanFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — GermanPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in German Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at German Lake average 38.12 bluegill per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 13 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 10, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 2–9 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 19 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 10, 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 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 grades German Lake F from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 4 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 German Lake
Top-rated places to stay near German Lake
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