Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 23, 2018
Lower Comstock Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Lower Comstock Lake average 5.53 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 4 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 23, 2018. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–13 inches. In St. Louis County, Minnesota, Lower Comstock 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 4.5 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 Lower Comstock Lake
13 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 Lower Comstock 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 Lower Comstock Lake average 5.53 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 4 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 23, 2018. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–13 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 Lower Comstock Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2018-07-23 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 5.53 | 1.07 lb |
| Bluegill | 3.67 | 0.25 lb |
| Black Crappie | 3.41 | 0.29 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.25 | 0.12 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.09 | 1.91 lb |
| White Sucker | 1.82 | 3.4 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
From the 2018-07-23 survey
Lower Comstock is a 160 acre lake located about 6 miles south of Markham, MN. The lake is accessed through a DNR administered public access on Upper Comstock Lake, then navigating up the channel to Lower Comstock Lake. Maximum depth is 30 feet, with about 76% of the lake less than 15 feet deep. Lower Comstock was last…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Lower Comstock Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Lower ComstockFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Lower ComstockFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Lower ComstockPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Lower Comstock Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Lower Comstock Lake average 5.53 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 4 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 23, 2018. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–13 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 13 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 Lower Comstock Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Lower Comstock Lake is dated July 23, 2018. 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 Lower Comstock Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Lower Comstock 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 Lower Comstock 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 Lower Comstock Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. 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 Lower Comstock Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Lower Comstock Lake
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