Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 23, 2023
Species recorded at Scotch Lake
5 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 Scotch 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 Scotch Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 23, 2023 caught 24.50 walleye per gill net at Scotch Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–8 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Scotch Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-08-23 (Targeted Survey).
7 surveys on file · most recent 2023-08-23 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 200.53 | 6–12 in 2023-08-23 | 0.28 lb |
| Common Carp | 28.42 | 6–11 in 2023-08-23 | 1.26 lb |
| Walleye | 12.74 | 6–8 in 2023-08-23 | 1.59 lb |
| Black Crappie | 8.23 | 6–10 in 2013-07-22 | 0.17 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 7.99 | 6–9 in 2023-08-23 | 0.32 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.05 | 15 in 2023-08-23 | 2.46 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and 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
Common Carp
Walleye
Black Crappie
From the 2023-08-23 survey
Scotch Lake is a 565-acre lake located in Le Sueur County near the city of Cleveland. A public access is located on the northwest side of the lake, just off 271st Avenue. Scotch Lake is a shallow basin with a maximum depth of 11 feet. Scotch Lake experienced a strong winterkill during the winter of 2022-2023. Members…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Scotch Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ScotchFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ScotchFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ScotchPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Scotch Lake?
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 23, 2023 caught 24.50 walleye per gill net at Scotch Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–8 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 5 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 Scotch Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Scotch Lake is dated August 23, 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 Scotch Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Scotch 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.
Do the water-quality readings tell me how Scotch Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Scotch Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
Water-quality readings are 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 with clear, low-nutrient water can still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Scotch Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Scotch Lake
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