Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 7, 2025
Portage Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Portage Lake average 18.00 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 13 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 7, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–11 inches. In Cass County, Minnesota, Portage Lake has no letter grade — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Water clarity averages 21.0 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 Portage 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 Portage 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 Portage Lake average 18.00 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 13 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 7, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–11 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 Portage Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, 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
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-07 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 32.39 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 18.00 | 0.85 lb |
| Bluegill | 15.43 | 0.11 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 6.07 | 1.09 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Smallmouth Bass
From the 2025-07-07 survey
Portage Lake (DOW# 11-0476; Lake Class 23) is a 277-acre lake with 95 littoral acres, 3.1 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 84 feet located near Hackensack, MN. A US Forest Service owned public access is located on the south shore. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has classified Minnesota's lakes…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Portage Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PortageFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Portage (1460)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PortageFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Portage Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Portage Lake average 18.00 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 13 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 7, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–11 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 Portage Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Portage Lake is dated July 7, 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 Portage Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Portage 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 Portage 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 Portage Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, 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 Portage Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Portage Lake
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