Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 24, 1999
Mud Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Mud Lake average 2.32 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 24, 1999. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 15–34 inches. In Crow Wing County, Minnesota, Mud Lake has no letter grade — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Water clarity averages 4.0 feet of visibility. 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 Mud 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 Mud Lake
No stocking record for Mud 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.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Mud Lake average 2.32 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 24, 1999. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 15–34 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Mud Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1999-06-24 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 27.15 | 0.16 lb |
| Black Crappie | 11.83 | 0.17 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 9.97 | 0.61 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 6.29 | 0.7 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 3.46 | 0.65 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.32 | 1.79 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
Black Crappie
Yellow Bass
Brown Bullhead
From the 1999-06-24 survey
Mud lake is an 84 acre lake located 5 miles southeast of Emily. Maximum depth is 28 feet with 42% less than 15 feet deep. Water clarity is limited due to bog stain. The shoreline is a mixed forest with numerous red pine present on sandy soil. Development is light with a total of 11 cottages and homes present. Bottom…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Mud Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MudFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Mud Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Mud Lake average 2.32 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 24, 1999. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 15–34 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 Mud Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Mud Lake is dated June 24, 1999. 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 Mud Lake stocked?
No stocking record for Mud 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 Mud Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Mud Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 6 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 Mud Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Mud Lake
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