Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 11, 2025
Nichols Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Nichols Lake average 8.81 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated August 11, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–16 inches. In St. Louis County, Minnesota, Nichols Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 5.1 feet of visibility, and there is one public boat landing. 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 Nichols Lake
12 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 Nichols 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
1 public boat landing is recorded on Nichols 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 Nichols Lake average 8.81 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated August 11, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–16 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Nichols Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-11 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 9.76 | 0.18 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 8.81 | 1.29 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.55 | 1.7 lb |
| Black Crappie | 2.54 | 0.21 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 2.48 | 0.85 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
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
Black Crappie
From the 2025-08-11 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Nichols Lake was conducted on August 11th-13th, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing, mini-fyke nets, and seining with a 50-foot or…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Nichols Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — NicholsFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Nichols (1819)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — NicholsFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — NicholsPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Nichols Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Nichols Lake average 8.81 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated August 11, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–16 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 12 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 Nichols Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Nichols Lake is dated August 11, 2025. 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 Nichols Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Nichols 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 Nichols Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Nichols Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. 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 Nichols Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Nichols Lake
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