Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 6, 2005
Mow Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Mow Lake average 3.27 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 5 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 6, 2005. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 12–28 inches. In Hubbard County, Minnesota, Mow Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 14.5 feet of visibility, and the lake has public access. 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 Mow 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 Mow Lake
No stocking record for Mow Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is an absence in the published record, not a confirmation that the lake is unstocked — some waters are managed as naturally reproducing and never appear in a stocking list at all.
Getting on the water
Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Mow Lake average 3.27 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 5 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 6, 2005. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 12–28 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Mow Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2005-06-06 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 28.87 | 0.15 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 7.72 | 0.21 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 6.33 | 0.52 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.27 | 1.47 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 2.36 | 0.15 lb |
| Walleye | 1.78 | 3.22 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
Pumpkinseed
Yellow Bass
Northern Pike
From the 2005-06-06 survey
Mow Lake is located in Hubbard County, ten miles south of Akeley. Mow Lake has a surface area of 100 acres and a maximum depth of 34 feet. A carry-in public access is located on the south shore of the lake. Mow Lake provides fishing opportunities for northern pike, largemouth bass, panfish, and an occasional…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Mow Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MowFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Mow (1261)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — MowPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Mow Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Mow Lake average 3.27 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 5 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 6, 2005. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 12–28 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 Mow Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Mow Lake is dated June 6, 2005. 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 Mow Lake stocked?
No stocking record for Mow Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is not the same as a confirmed unstocked lake: it means no stocking document was published for it in the records this page draws on.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Mow Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Mow Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 3 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 Mow Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Mow Lake
Planning a trip to Mow Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Mow Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.