Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 8, 1990
Schmidt Lake FishingDWater-quality grade D
Minnesota DNR surveys at Schmidt Lake average 3.50 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 8, 1990. In Hennepin County, Minnesota, Schmidt Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of D. Water clarity averages 5.5 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 Schmidt 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.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Schmidt Lake average 3.50 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 8, 1990.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Schmidt Lake D 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
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1990-08-08 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 48.12 | 0.22 lb |
| Bluegill | 14.04 | 0.07 lb |
| Black Crappie | 4.17 | 0.17 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 4.00 | 0.35 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.50 | 2.79 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 1.87 | 0.07 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 1990-08-08 survey
NORTHERN PIKE WERE SAMPLED AT LEVELS HIGHER THAN LOCAL MEDIANS FOR NUMBER PER SET, BUT POUNDS PER SET WAS VERY CLOSE TO LOCAL MEDIANS. THE BLACK BULLHEAD POPULATION IS HIGHER THAN LOCAL MEDIANS FOR NUMBERS WHILE BEING ONLY ABOUT 1/3 LOCAL MEDIANS FOR POUNDS PER SET. BLUEGILL AND BLACK CRAPPIE NUMBERS WERE SAMPLED NEAR…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Schmidt Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SchmidtFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SchmidtFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Schmidt Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Schmidt Lake average 3.50 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 8, 1990. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Schmidt Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Schmidt Lake is dated August 8, 1990. 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 Schmidt Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Schmidt 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 Schmidt Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Schmidt Lake D 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 Schmidt Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Schmidt Lake
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