Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 8, 2002
Grave Lake FishingDWater-quality grade D
Minnesota DNR surveys at Grave Lake average 7.79 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 8, 2002. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–29 inches. In Crow Wing County, Minnesota, Grave Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of D. Water clarity averages 3.6 feet of visibility. 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 Grave Lake
9 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 Grave Lake
No stocking record for Grave 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 Grave Lake average 7.79 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 8, 2002. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–29 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Grave Lake D 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
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2002-07-08 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 18.33 | 0.22 lb |
| Black Crappie | 15.74 | 0.15 lb |
| Northern Pike | 7.79 | 1.6 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 4.11 | 0.17 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 3.83 | 0.99 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 3.29 | 0.66 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 Crappie
Northern Pike
Hybrid Sunfish
From the 2002-07-08 survey
Grave Lake is a 157 acre lake located about 8 miles east of Brainerd in Crow Wing County. There is no public access on the lake. The lake is heavily developed with 65 homes/cabins along 2 miles of shoreline. The maximum depth is 13'. Shallow water substrates are primarily sand and gravel. The aquatic plant community…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Grave Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — GraveFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Grave (0068)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Grave Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Grave Lake average 7.79 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 8, 2002. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–29 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 9 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 Grave Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Grave Lake is dated July 8, 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 Grave Lake stocked?
No stocking record for Grave 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 Grave Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Grave Lake D 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 Grave Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Grave Lake
Planning a trip to Grave Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Grave Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.