Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 3, 2019
Goose Lake FishingDWater-quality grade D
Minnesota DNR surveys at Goose Lake average 47.28 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 3, 2019. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 3–18 inches. In Pope County, Minnesota, Goose Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of D. Water clarity averages 6.1 feet of visibility, and 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 Goose Lake
5 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 Goose 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 Goose Lake average 47.28 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 3, 2019. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 3–18 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Goose Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2019-06-03 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 47.28 | 0.91 lb |
| White Sucker | 6.63 | 1.46 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 2.79 | 1.42 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 1.42 | 0.1 lb |
| Bluegill | 0.83 | 0.04 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
White Sucker
Black Bullhead
Green Sunfish
From the 2019-06-03 survey
Goose Lake is a shallow basin located five miles south of Terrace in Pope County. Maximum depth is approximately 17.0 feet. Winterkill events were common on Goose Lake prior to water levels rising in recent decades. Increasing water levels are evidenced by dead standing timber fringing the shoreline. Increased depth…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Goose Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GooseFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — GooseFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — GoosePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Goose Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Goose Lake average 47.28 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 3, 2019. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 3–18 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 5 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 Goose Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Goose Lake is dated June 3, 2019. 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 Goose Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Goose 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 Goose Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Goose Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. 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 Goose Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Goose Lake
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