Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 10, 2002
Graham Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Graham Lake average 4.83 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 10, 2002. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–32 inches. In Otter Tail County, Minnesota, Graham Lake has no letter grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Water clarity averages 8.4 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 Graham Lake
16 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 Graham Lake
No stocking record for Graham Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is an absence in the published record, not a confirmation that the lake is unstocked — some waters are managed as naturally reproducing and never appear in a stocking list at all.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Graham Lake average 4.83 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 10, 2002. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–32 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 Graham Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. 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: 2002-06-10 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 26.80 | 0.31 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 12.98 | 0.57 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 12.00 | 0.1 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 8.28 | 0.21 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.96 | 0.21 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.83 | 1.93 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
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Hybrid Sunfish
From the 2002-06-10 survey
Graham Lake is a 210-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in north-central Otter Tail County one mile southwest of Frazee, MN. The northern portion of the lake is located within Becker County. Graham Lake is connected to Wimar Lake via a culvert under a township road along the southeast shoreline. The…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Graham Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GrahamFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Graham Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Graham Lake average 4.83 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 10, 2002. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–32 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 16 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 Graham Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Graham Lake is dated June 10, 2002. 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 Graham Lake stocked?
No stocking record for Graham Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is not the same as a confirmed unstocked lake: it means no stocking document was published for it in the records this page draws on.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Graham 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 Graham Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 6 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 Graham Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Graham Lake
Planning a trip to Graham Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Graham Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.