Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 22, 1992
Mule Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Mule Lake average 7.25 black crappie per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 1 survey. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 22, 1992. In Otter Tail County, Minnesota, Mule Lake has no letter grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Water clarity averages 17.1 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.
Stocking at Mule 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.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Mule Lake average 7.25 black crappie per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 1 survey. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 22, 1992.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Mule Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, 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
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1992-06-22 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 63.63 | 0.17 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 11.25 | 0.2 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 9.25 | 0.27 lb |
| Black Crappie | 7.25 | 0.3 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.75 | 0.1 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 3.50 | 0.37 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.
From the 1992-06-22 survey
Mule Lake is included in class 33 of the MN DNR lake classification system. Other area lakes in this class include: Anderson, Belmont, Jim, and Tonseth. Northern pike abundance is below normal for this lake class with a gill net catch rate of 1.0 per lift. The average weight of individual northern pike was 2.9 pounds.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Mule Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MuleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — MuleFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Mule Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Mule Lake average 7.25 black crappie per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 1 survey. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 22, 1992. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Mule Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Mule Lake is dated June 22, 1992. 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 Mule Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Mule 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 Mule 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 Mule Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, 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 Mule Lake
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