Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 15, 2022
Schoolcraft Lake FishingCWater-quality grade C
Minnesota DNR surveys at Schoolcraft Lake average 6.51 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 15, 2022. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–29 inches. In Hubbard County, Minnesota, Schoolcraft Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of C. Water clarity averages 8.9 feet of visibility, and there is one public boat landing. 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 Schoolcraft Lake
11 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 Schoolcraft 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
1 public boat landing is recorded on Schoolcraft 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 Schoolcraft Lake average 6.51 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 15, 2022. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–29 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Schoolcraft 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
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-08-15 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 26.49 | 0.29 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 11.92 | 0.27 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 7.38 | 0.56 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.51 | 1.25 lb |
| Bluegill | 2.94 | 0.42 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
Brown Bullhead
Northern Pike
From the 2022-08-15 survey
Schoolcraft Lake is located three miles southwest of Lake George in northern Hubbard County. Schoolcraft has a surface area of 170 acres and a maximum depth of 37 feet. A state-owned public access is located on the north shore of the lake next to the outlet culvert. The access is very shallow and narrow with a cattail…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Schoolcraft Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SchoolcraftFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Schoolcraft (1300)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SchoolcraftFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SchoolcraftPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Schoolcraft Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Schoolcraft Lake average 6.51 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 15, 2022. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–29 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 11 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 Schoolcraft Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Schoolcraft Lake is dated August 15, 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 Schoolcraft Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Schoolcraft 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 Schoolcraft Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Schoolcraft 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 Schoolcraft Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Schoolcraft Lake
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