Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest September 16, 2025
Leo Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Leo Lake average 10.88 smallmouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated September 16, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–16 inches. In Cook County, Minnesota, Leo Lake has no letter grade — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Water clarity averages 15.0 feet of visibility, and the lake has public access. 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 Leo Lake
3 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 Leo 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
Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Leo Lake average 10.88 smallmouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated September 16, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–16 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Leo Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, 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
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-09-16 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 16.90 | — |
| Green Sunfish | 16.57 | 0.07 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 10.88 | 1.09 lb |
| Brook Trout | 3.27 | 0.74 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.
Green Sunfish
Smallmouth Bass
Brook Trout
From the 2025-09-16 survey
Leo Lake is a 102-acre lake with a maximum depth of 28.0 ft and located approximately 30 miles north of Grand Marais in Cook County, Minnesota. Access to the lake requires a steep, short carry-down off the Hungry Jack Lake Road. Leo Lake has been managed for stream trout since the 1930's, with rainbow trout stocked…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Leo Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LeoFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Leo (1831)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — LeoFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — LeoPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Leo Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Leo Lake average 10.88 smallmouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated September 16, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–16 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 3 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 Leo Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Leo Lake is dated September 16, 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 Leo Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Leo 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 Leo Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Leo Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, 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
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 Leo Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Leo Lake
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