Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest May 9, 2023
Minnewaska Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Minnewaska Lake average 21.69 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 14 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 9, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–19 inches. In Pope County, Minnesota, Minnewaska Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 11.0 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 Minnewaska Lake
21 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 Minnewaska 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 Minnewaska 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 Minnewaska Lake average 21.69 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 14 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 9, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–19 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Minnewaska Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-05-09 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 32.73 | 0.22 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 26.83 | 0.19 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 21.69 | 0.94 lb |
| Fathead Minnow | 11.51 | — |
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
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
From the 2023-05-09 survey
A targeted survey was completed in the spring of 2023 on Lake Minnewaska to assess the Bluegill and Black Crappie populations. A special regulation that reduced the daily sunfish limit from 20 down to 10 was also implemented in the spring of 2022. The goal of this new regulation is to maintain or increase the average…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Minnewaska Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MinnewaskaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — MinnewaskaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MinnewaskaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Minnewaska Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Minnewaska Lake average 21.69 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 14 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 9, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–19 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 21 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 Minnewaska Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Minnewaska Lake is dated May 9, 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 Minnewaska Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Minnewaska 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 Minnewaska Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Minnewaska Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. 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 Minnewaska Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Minnewaska Lake
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