Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 7, 2023
Species recorded at Jay Gould 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 Jay Gould 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
3 public boat landings are recorded on Jay Gould Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 1, 2022 caught 3.12 walleye per gill net at Jay Gould Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Jay Gould Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-08-07 (Targeted Survey).
9 surveys on file · most recent 2023-08-07 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 17.23 | 4–10 in 2022-08-01 | 0.18 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 6.48 | 0.87 lb | |
| Bluegill | 5.57 | 2–9 in 2022-08-01 | 0.29 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 5.41 | 7–15 in 2022-08-01 | 0.93 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.74 | 11–35 in 2022-08-01 | 1.63 lb |
| Yellow Bullhead | 3.44 | 8–13 in 2022-08-01 | 0.93 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and 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.
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
From the 2023-08-07 survey
A temperature-dissolved oxygen profile was collected in the deepest basin on Jay Gould Lake on August 7, 2023, to evaluate the amount of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee. Based on the profile, the top of the thermocline (i.e., the location in the water column…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Jay Gould Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Jay GouldFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Jay Gould (0837)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Jay GouldFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Jay GouldPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Jay Gould Lake?
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 1, 2022 caught 3.12 walleye per gill net at Jay Gould Lake. 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 Jay Gould Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Jay Gould Lake is dated August 7, 2023. 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 Jay Gould Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Jay Gould 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.
Do the water-quality readings tell me how Jay Gould Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Jay Gould Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
Water-quality readings are 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 with clear, low-nutrient water can still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Jay Gould Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Jay Gould Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Planning a trip to Jay Gould Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Jay Gould Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.