Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest October 8, 2025
Sarah Lake FishingCWater-quality grade C
Minnesota DNR surveys at Sarah Lake average 135.32 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 22 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated October 8, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–9 inches. In Murray County, Minnesota, Sarah Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of C. Water clarity averages 3.9 feet of visibility, and there are 3 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 Sarah 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 Sarah 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
3 public boat landings are recorded on Sarah 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 Sarah Lake average 135.32 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 22 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated October 8, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–9 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Sarah Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
22 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-10-08 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 135.32 | 2.04 lb |
| Fathead Minnow | 89.30 | — |
| Black Bullhead | 64.24 | 0.5 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 26.24 | 0.23 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.
Walleye
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
From the 2025-10-08 survey
Lake Sarah is a 1,093-acre, class 41 lake, located approximately 4 miles south of the City of Garvin in Murray County. Lake Sarah has a maximum depth of 11.0 feet and a watershed-to-lake ratio of 10-to-1. Lake Sarah is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Yellow Perch. Lake Sarah's Walleye population is…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Sarah Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SarahFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SarahFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SarahPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Sarah Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Sarah Lake average 135.32 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 22 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated October 8, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–9 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 Sarah Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Sarah Lake is dated October 8, 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 Sarah Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Sarah 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 Sarah Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Sarah Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 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 Sarah Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Sarah Lake
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