Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 31, 2020
Species recorded at Paul 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 Paul 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 Paul Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 31, 2020 caught 8.33 walleye per gill net at Paul Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 12–29 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Paul Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2020-08-31 (Targeted Survey).
6 surveys on file · most recent 2020-08-31 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Bullhead | 25.36 | 7–13 in 2020-08-31 | 0.55 lb |
| Bluegill | 15.53 | 3–8 in 2020-08-31 | 0.18 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.26 | 13–33 in 2020-08-31 | 1.37 lb |
| Walleye | 3.76 | 12–29 in 2020-08-31 | 2.15 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.62 | 3–7 in 2020-08-31 | 0.16 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 2.56 | 8–14 in 2020-08-31 | 0.64 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and 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 Bullhead
Bluegill
Northern Pike
Walleye
From the 2020-08-31 survey
Paul Lake is a 319-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in north-central Otter Tail County approximately six miles west of Perham, MN. Paul Lake is located within the Otter Tail River Watershed. The immediate watershed is composed of hardwood forest interspersed with agricultural land and marshes. The…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Paul Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PaulFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Paul (1174)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PaulFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PaulPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Paul Lake?
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 31, 2020 caught 8.33 walleye per gill net at Paul Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 12–29 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 Paul Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Paul Lake is dated August 31, 2020. 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 Paul Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Paul 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.
Do the water-quality readings tell me how Paul Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Paul Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
Water-quality readings are 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 with clear, low-nutrient water can still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Paul Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Paul Lake
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