Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest September 10, 2025
Marion Lake FishingFWater-quality grade F
Minnesota DNR surveys at Marion Lake average 33.81 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 26 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated September 10, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–14 inches. In McLeod County, Minnesota, Marion Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of F. 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
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 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 33.81 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 26 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated September 10, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–14 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Marion Lake F from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
26 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-09-10 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 40.19 | 0.16 lb |
| Walleye | 33.81 | 1.32 lb |
| Black Crappie | 31.22 | 0.26 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 28.46 | 0.88 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 20.67 | 0.99 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.
Yellow Perch
Walleye
Black Crappie
Black Bullhead
From the 2025-09-10 survey
A targeted survey (fall nighttime electrofishing) was conducted on Marion Lake on September 10th, 2025, to evaluate young of the year (YOY) and yearling Walleye abundance. A total of 101 YOY were sampled for a catch rate of 101.0 fish/hr., which was above the lake's historical (1994 to 2025) median (30.0 fish/hr.).…
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 33.81 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 26 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated September 10, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–14 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 Marion Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Marion Lake is dated September 10, 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 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 F from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. 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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