Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 10, 2023
Species recorded at Pillager 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 Pillager 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 Pillager Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 10, 2023 caught 2.67 northern pike per gill net at Pillager Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 12–37 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Pillager Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. 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: 2023-07-10 (Standard Survey).
6 surveys on file · most recent 2023-07-10 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 40.81 | 10–16 in 2023-07-10 | 1.14 lb |
| Bluegill | 27.28 | 2–8 in 2023-07-10 | 0.16 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.91 | 4–7 in 2023-07-10 | 0.18 lb |
| Rock Bass | 2.95 | 3–11 in 2023-07-10 | 0.27 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.57 | 12–37 in 2023-07-10 | 2.93 lb |
| Yellow Bullhead | 2.54 | 11–13 in 2023-07-10 | 0.93 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.
Tullibee (Cisco)
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
Rock Bass
From the 2023-07-10 survey
Pillager is a lightly developed, picturesque, little lake nestled into the hillside right off County Rd 1 north of the town of Pillager, MN. It has a park, swimming beach, fishing pier, and public access all at one location on the SW corner. Recent surveys suggest fishing for Tullibee (Cisco) is one of the better…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Pillager Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PillagerFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Pillager (1440)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PillagerFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PillagerPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Pillager Lake?
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 10, 2023 caught 2.67 northern pike per gill net at Pillager Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 12–37 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 Pillager Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Pillager Lake is dated July 10, 2023. 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 Pillager Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Pillager 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 Pillager Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Pillager Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. 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 Pillager Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Pillager Lake
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