Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 13, 2024
North Brown'S Lake FishingFWater-quality grade F
Minnesota DNR surveys at North Brown'S Lake average 14.44 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated June 13, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–12 inches. In Stearns County, Minnesota, North Brown'S Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of F. Water clarity averages 4.0 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 North Brown'S Lake
18 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 North Brown'S 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
Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at North Brown'S Lake average 14.44 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated June 13, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–12 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades North Brown'S Lake F from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-06-13 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 33.12 | 0.16 lb |
| Bluegill | 24.20 | 0.18 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 15.77 | 0.1 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 14.44 | 1.25 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 11.96 | — |
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.
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
From the 2024-06-13 survey
North Browns is a 324-acre lake located five miles north of Eden Valley in southern Stearns County. It has a maximum depth of 41 feet and a large watershed dominated by agriculture. . The lake is primarily managed for Walleye and has a public access is located on the northeast end of the lake. This survey was…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for North Brown'S Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — North Brown'sFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — North Brown'sFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — North Brown'sPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in North Brown'S Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at North Brown'S Lake average 14.44 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated June 13, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–12 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 18 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 North Brown'S Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for North Brown'S Lake is dated June 13, 2024. 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 North Brown'S Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for North Brown'S 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 North Brown'S Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades North Brown'S Lake F from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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 North Brown'S Lake
Top-rated places to stay near North Brown'S Lake
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