Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 17, 1987
Hoot Owl Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Hoot Owl Lake average 5.96 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 17, 1987. In Clearwater County, Minnesota, Hoot Owl Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 12.1 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.
Stocking at Hoot Owl Lake
No stocking record for Hoot Owl 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 Hoot Owl Lake average 5.96 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 17, 1987.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Hoot Owl Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. 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: 1987-06-17 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 165.72 | 0.12 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 14.28 | 0.17 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 8.22 | 0.22 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 7.61 | 0.12 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.96 | 0.97 lb |
| Rock Bass | 4.39 | 0.33 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.
From the 1987-06-17 survey
FISH POPULATION APPEARS DOMIANTED BY SMALL NORTH- ERN PIKE AND SMALL BLUEGILL. MOST PIKE CAUGHT IN GILLNETS WERE 20 INCHES. GILLNET INDEX FOR YELLOW PERCH WAS 1/3 THE LOCAL MEAN. GILLNET INDEX FOR WALLEYE WAS CONSIDERABLY LOWER THAN STATE OR LOCAL MEDIAN AND INDEX IN 1983. YOY NORTHERN PIKE, BLUEGILL, AND LARGEMOUTH…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hoot Owl Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Hoot OwlFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Hoot Owl Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Hoot Owl Lake average 5.96 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 17, 1987. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Hoot Owl Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Hoot Owl Lake is dated June 17, 1987. 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 Hoot Owl Lake stocked?
No stocking record for Hoot Owl 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 Hoot Owl Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Hoot Owl Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. 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 Hoot Owl Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Hoot Owl Lake
Planning a trip to Hoot Owl Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Hoot Owl Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.