Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 18, 2022
Potato Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Potato Lake average 17.12 yellow perch per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 13 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated July 18, 2022. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 1–9 inches. In Hubbard County, Minnesota, Potato Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 11.5 feet of visibility, and there are 2 public boat landings. 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 Potato Lake
15 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 Potato 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
2 public boat landings are recorded on Potato 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 Potato Lake average 17.12 yellow perch per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 13 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated July 18, 2022. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 1–9 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Potato Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-18 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 21.09 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 17.12 | 0.11 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.
Bluntnose Minnow
Yellow Perch
From the 2022-07-18 survey
Potato Lake is located seven miles north of Park Rapids in Hubbard County. Potato has a surface area of 2,096 acres and a maximum depth of 87 feet. A state-owned public access is located on the north shore and a county-owned access is located on the west "arm" of the lake. Boating access with small craft is also…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Potato Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PotatoFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Potato (1284)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — PotatoFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — PotatoPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Potato Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Potato Lake average 17.12 yellow perch per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 13 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated July 18, 2022. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 1–9 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 15 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 Potato Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Potato Lake is dated July 18, 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 Potato Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Potato 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 Potato Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Potato Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
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 Potato Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Potato Lake
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