Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest May 31, 2019
Hoffman Lake FishingCWater-quality grade C
Minnesota DNR surveys at Hoffman Lake average 24.39 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 4 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 31, 2019. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–18 inches. In Otter Tail County, Minnesota, Hoffman Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of C. Water clarity averages 9.5 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 Hoffman Lake
1 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 Hoffman 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.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Hoffman Lake average 24.39 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 4 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 31, 2019. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–18 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Hoffman Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2019-05-31 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 50.07 | 0.2 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 25.59 | 0.37 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 24.39 | 0.96 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 13.43 | 0.62 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 10.15 | 0.23 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 9.76 | 0.64 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 Bass
Largemouth Bass
Brown Bullhead
From the 2019-05-31 survey
Hoffman Lake is a 150-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in central Otter Tail County approximately four miles south of Vergas, MN. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood woodlots. The maximum depth is 20 feet; however, the majority of the lake is…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hoffman Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HoffmanFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Hoffman (1047)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — HoffmanFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Hoffman Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Hoffman Lake average 24.39 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 4 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 31, 2019. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–18 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 1 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 Hoffman Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Hoffman Lake is dated May 31, 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 Hoffman Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Hoffman 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 Hoffman Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Hoffman Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 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 Hoffman Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Hoffman Lake
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