Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 12, 2021
Marion Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Marion Lake average 6.44 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated July 12, 2021. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 11–16 inches. In Dakota County, Minnesota, Marion Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 7.0 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 Marion Lake
14 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 Marion 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 Marion 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 Marion Lake average 6.44 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated July 12, 2021. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 11–16 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Marion Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is stable. 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: 2021-07-12 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 36.09 | 0.12 lb |
| Black Crappie | 14.73 | 0.16 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 9.31 | 0.7 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.83 | 0.14 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 6.94 | 0.67 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 6.44 | 1.23 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.
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
From the 2021-07-12 survey
Lake Marion is a 530 acre class 35 lake in western Dakota County. Lake Marion is primarily managed for Walleye, and secondarily for Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Bluegill. The City of Lakeville owns and maintains two park areas in the lake - Antler's Park on the SE corner and Casperson Park on the west side of…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Marion Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MarionFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — MarionFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MarionPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Marion Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Marion Lake average 6.44 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated July 12, 2021. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 11–16 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 14 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 Marion Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Marion Lake is dated July 12, 2021. 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 Marion Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Marion 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 Marion Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Marion Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is stable. 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 Marion Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Marion Lake
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