Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 1, 2009
Ocheda Lake FishingFWater-quality grade F
Minnesota DNR surveys at Ocheda Lake average 6.20 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 1, 2009. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 14–36 inches. In Nobles County, Minnesota, Ocheda Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of F. Water clarity averages 1.6 feet of visibility, and there are 2 public boat landings. 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 Ocheda Lake
10 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 Ocheda 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
2 public boat landings are recorded on Ocheda 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 Ocheda Lake average 6.20 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 1, 2009. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 14–36 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Ocheda Lake F from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2009-06-01 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 39.47 | 0.19 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 27.05 | 0.24 lb |
| Bigmouth Buffalo | 24.30 | 1.17 lb |
| Common Carp | 18.38 | 3.59 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.20 | 2.74 lb |
| White Sucker | 4.85 | 1.22 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.
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Bigmouth Buffalo
Common Carp
From the 2009-06-01 survey
Ocheda is a 1,700-acre lake located 2 miles south of Worthington in Nobles County. The lake has a maximum depth of 5 feet, 21 miles of shoreline, and is a class 41 lake. The lake is managed primarily for northern pike while yellow perch and walleye are managed secondarily. Local riparian owners and the Okabena-Ocheda…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Ocheda Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — OchedaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — OchedaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — OchedaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Ocheda Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Ocheda Lake average 6.20 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 1, 2009. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 14–36 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 10 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 Ocheda Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Ocheda Lake is dated June 1, 2009. 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 Ocheda Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Ocheda 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 Ocheda Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Ocheda Lake F 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 Ocheda Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Ocheda Lake
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