Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest May 1, 2023
Ripley Lake FishingCWater-quality grade C
Minnesota DNR surveys at Ripley Lake average 12.12 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 15 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 1, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–21 inches. In Meeker County, Minnesota, Ripley Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of C. Water clarity averages 4.6 feet of visibility, and the lake has public access. 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 Ripley 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 Ripley Lake
No stocking record for Ripley 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.
Getting on the water
Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Ripley Lake average 12.12 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 15 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 1, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–21 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Ripley 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
15 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-05-01 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 38.31 | 0.56 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 29.00 | 0.09 lb |
| Bluegill | 21.03 | 0.21 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 12.12 | 1.54 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 6.97 | 0.64 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
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
From the 2023-05-01 survey
Ripley is a medium sized lake (614 acres) located next to the City of Litchfield in Meeker County. Ripley has four miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 18 feet. A city owned public access, with a cement boat ramp, and a large amount of parking is present on the east shore. A county owned public access, with a…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Ripley Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Ripley (west portion)Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Ripley (west portion)Public Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Ripley Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Ripley Lake average 12.12 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 15 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 1, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–21 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 Ripley Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Ripley Lake is dated May 1, 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 Ripley Lake stocked?
No stocking record for Ripley 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 Ripley Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Ripley 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.
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Top-rated places to stay near Ripley Lake
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