Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 1, 2024
Meadow Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Meadow Lake average 4.30 rainbow trout per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 1, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 11–12 inches. In Becker County, Minnesota, Meadow Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 14.0 feet of visibility, and there are 2 public boat landings. 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 Meadow Lake
11 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 Meadow 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
2 public boat landings are recorded on Meadow 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 Meadow Lake average 4.30 rainbow trout per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 1, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 11–12 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Meadow Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-01 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 34.49 | 0.14 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 20.16 | 1.98 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 15.97 | 0.23 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 7.34 | 0.52 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.67 | 0.22 lb |
| Rainbow Trout | 4.30 | 0.57 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
Tullibee (Cisco)
Hybrid Sunfish
Yellow Bass
From the 2024-07-01 survey
Meadow Lake is 71-acres and located four miles south of Detroit Lakes in Becker County. It has a maximum depth of 72 feet. It is capable of sustaining both warm water and cold water fish species. The lake was managed as a two-story fishery from 1987 through 2009 with stocked Brown and Rainbow Trout, but poor angler…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Meadow Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MeadowFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Meadow (1218)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — MeadowFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MeadowPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Meadow Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Meadow Lake average 4.30 rainbow trout per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 1, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 11–12 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 11 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 Meadow Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Meadow Lake is dated July 1, 2024. 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 Meadow Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Meadow 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 Meadow Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Meadow Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 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 Meadow Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Meadow Lake
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