Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest May 5, 2025
Little Cut Foot Lake FishingDWater-quality grade D
Minnesota DNR surveys at Little Cut Foot Lake average 3.15 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 13 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 5, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–32 inches. In Itasca County, Minnesota, Little Cut Foot Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of D. Water clarity averages 6.6 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 Little Cut Foot Lake
15 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 Little Cut Foot 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
1 public boat landing is recorded on Little Cut Foot Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Little Cut Foot Lake average 3.15 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 13 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 5, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–32 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Little Cut Foot Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-05-05 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 17.49 | 1.32 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 16.12 | 0.29 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 12.26 | 0.47 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 4.26 | 0.79 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.15 | 1.74 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.
Tullibee (Cisco)
Yellow Perch
Black Bullhead
Brown Bullhead
From the 2025-05-05 survey
Black Crappie were collected as part of a broad research project investigating populations across Minnesota. Spring trap net surveys collected a total of 151 fish. Individuals averaged 10.4 inches with the largest individual being 13.4 inches. Growth was rapid and total length averaged 8.3 and 11.5 inches at age 3 and…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Cut Foot Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little Cut Foot SiouxFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Little Cut Foot Sioux (0663)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Little Cut Foot SiouxFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little Cut Foot SiouxPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Little Cut Foot Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Little Cut Foot Lake average 3.15 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 13 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 5, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–32 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 15 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 Little Cut Foot Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Little Cut Foot Lake is dated May 5, 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 Little Cut Foot Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Little Cut Foot 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 Little Cut Foot Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Little Cut Foot Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 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 Little Cut Foot Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Little Cut Foot Lake
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