Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 19, 2024
Pearl Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Pearl Lake average 7.56 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 19, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–16 inches. In Becker County, Minnesota, Pearl Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 10.0 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 Pearl Lake
11 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 Pearl 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 Pearl 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 Pearl Lake average 7.56 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 19, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–16 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Pearl Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-19 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 32.44 | 0.19 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 11.68 | 0.83 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 9.59 | 1.08 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 8.74 | 0.06 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 7.56 | 1.05 lb |
| Northern Pike | 7.00 | 1.76 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
Black Bullhead
Brown Bullhead
Green Sunfish
From the 2024-08-19 survey
Pearl Lake is a 280-acre lake southwest of Detroit Lakes, MN, within the Ottertail River Watershed. There is a public access on the southeast side of the lake. Pearl Lake is primarily noted for its Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and panfish angling, with occasional catches of Walleye. A standard fisheries survey was…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Pearl Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PearlFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Pearl (1184)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PearlFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PearlPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Pearl Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Pearl Lake average 7.56 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 19, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–16 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 11 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 Pearl Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Pearl Lake is dated August 19, 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 Pearl Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Pearl 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 Pearl Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Pearl Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 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 Pearl Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Pearl Lake
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