Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 8, 2022
Portage Lake FishingCWater-quality grade C
Minnesota DNR surveys at Portage Lake average 6.28 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 13 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 8, 2022. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–29 inches. In Hubbard County, Minnesota, Portage Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of C. Water clarity averages 5.5 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 Portage 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 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.
Getting on the water
1 public boat landing is recorded on Portage 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 Portage Lake average 6.28 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 13 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 8, 2022. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–29 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Portage Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. 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: 2022-08-08 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 21.92 | 0.38 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 14.21 | 0.63 lb |
| Bluegill | 11.26 | 0.19 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.63 | 0.12 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.28 | 1.8 lb |
| Black Crappie | 6.06 | 0.34 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.
Black Bullhead
Brown Bullhead
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
From the 2022-08-08 survey
Portage Lake is located three miles northwest of Park Rapids in west-central Hubbard County. Portage has a surface area of 429 acres and a maximum depth of 17 feet. A county owned public access is located on the south shore of the lake. Portage is a very popular lake for ice fishing, as it is one of the first lakes to…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Portage Lake. 4 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 (1264)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PortageFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PortagePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Portage Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Portage Lake average 6.28 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 13 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 8, 2022. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–29 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 Portage Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Portage Lake is dated August 8, 2022. 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 grades Portage Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. 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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