Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 30, 2025
Parent Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Parent Lake average 1.98 smallmouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated July 30, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–18 inches. In Lake County, Minnesota, Parent Lake has no letter grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Water clarity averages 18.0 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 Parent Lake
9 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 Parent 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 Parent Lake average 1.98 smallmouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated July 30, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–18 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 Parent Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-30 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 11.12 | 0.2 lb |
| White Sucker | 5.00 | 2.89 lb |
| Rock Bass | 4.35 | 0.19 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 1.98 | 1.03 lb |
| Walleye | 1.14 | 5.18 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.
Tullibee (Cisco)
White Sucker
Rock Bass
Smallmouth Bass
From the 2025-07-30 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Parent Lake on July 30th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake.…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Parent Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ParentFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ParentFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Parent Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Parent Lake average 1.98 smallmouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated July 30, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–18 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 9 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 Parent Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Parent Lake is dated July 30, 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 Parent Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Parent 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 Parent 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 Parent Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is stable. 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 Parent Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Parent Lake
Planning a trip to Parent Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Parent Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.