Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 14, 2023
Miltona Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Miltona Lake average 6396.21 muskellunge per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 17 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 14, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 39–39 inches. In Douglas County, Minnesota, Miltona Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 18.7 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 Miltona Lake
19 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 Miltona 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 Miltona 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 Miltona Lake average 6396.21 muskellunge per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 17 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 14, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 39–39 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Miltona Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
17 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-08-14 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Muskellunge | 6396.21 | 11.04 lb |
| Spottail Shiner | 34.97 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 32.46 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 26.57 | 0.73 lb |
| Bluegill | 17.82 | 0.18 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.
Muskellunge
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
From the 2023-08-14 survey
Lake Miltona, located north of Alexandria between the towns of Miltona and Leaf Valley, is the largest (5,724 acres) recreational fishing lake in Douglas County. Maximum depth exceeds 100 feet. The lake supports a productive fishery since nearly half of the basin is less than 15 feet in depth and a well oxygenated…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Miltona Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MiltonaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Miltona (1064)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — MiltonaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MiltonaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Miltona Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Miltona Lake average 6396.21 muskellunge per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 17 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 14, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 39–39 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 19 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 Miltona Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Miltona Lake is dated August 14, 2023. 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 Miltona Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Miltona 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 Miltona Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Miltona Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 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 Miltona Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Miltona Lake
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