Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest October 20, 2025
Species recorded at Knife Lake
19 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 Knife 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
2 public boat landings are recorded on Knife Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 25, 2025 caught 1.16 northern pike per hour of electrofishing at Knife Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Knife Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
22 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-10-20 (Targeted Survey).
22 surveys on file · most recent 2025-10-20 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 52.65 | 5–14 in 2025-10-20 | 1.51 lb |
| Common Carp | 20.08 | 1.09 lb | |
| Largemouth Bass | 17.64 | 3–16 in 2025-06-03 | 0.87 lb |
| White Crappie | 16.85 | 0.28 lb | |
| Yellow Perch | 13.14 | 5–10 in 2025-06-03 | 0.2 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.
Walleye
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-10-20 survey
Knife Lake is a 1,266-acre lake in central Kanabec County located six miles north of Mora and is within the Snake River Watershed. The lake has a maximum depth of 16 ft and 99% of the lake is 15 feet or less (1,259 littoral acres). Knife River flows originate from groundwater, which allows cool water species such as…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Knife Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — KnifeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Knife (0283)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — KnifeFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — KnifePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Knife Lake?
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 25, 2025 caught 1.16 northern pike per hour of electrofishing at Knife Lake. Minnesota DNR lists 19 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 Knife Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Knife Lake is dated October 20, 2025. 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 Knife Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Knife 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 Knife Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Knife Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
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 Knife Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Knife Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Planning a trip to Knife Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Knife Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.