Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 7, 1987
Rainy Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Rainy Lake average 2.56 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 7, 1987. In Cass County, Minnesota, Rainy Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 13.9 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.
Stocking at Rainy Lake
No stocking record for Rainy Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is an absence in the published record, not a confirmation that the lake is unstocked — some waters are managed as naturally reproducing and never appear in a stocking list at all.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Rainy Lake average 2.56 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 7, 1987.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Rainy 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
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1987-07-07 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 37.75 | 0.13 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 6.09 | 0.11 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.84 | 0.22 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 4.46 | 0.49 lb |
| Black Crappie | 3.33 | 0.3 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.56 | 3.3 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.
From the 1987-07-07 survey
The fish population does not seem to have changed appreciably since the lake survey done in 1962. The bulk of the fish biomass is still predominantly centrarchids, with bluegills, black crappies, and largemouth bass being the most sought-after fish by sportsmen. Looking at the age and growth data, it can be seen that…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Rainy Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RainyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Rainy (1579)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Rainy Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Rainy Lake average 2.56 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 7, 1987. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Rainy Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Rainy Lake is dated July 7, 1987. 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 Rainy Lake stocked?
No stocking record for Rainy Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is not the same as a confirmed unstocked lake: it means no stocking document was published for it in the records this page draws on.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Rainy Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Rainy 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.
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