Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 24, 2017
Silver Lake FishingDWater-quality grade D
Minnesota DNR surveys at Silver Lake average 7.79 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 24, 2017. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–14 inches. In Ramsey County, Minnesota, Silver Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of D. Water clarity averages 7.0 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 Silver 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 Silver 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 Silver 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 Silver Lake average 7.79 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 24, 2017. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–14 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Silver Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2017-07-24 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 33.34 | 0.07 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 17.60 | 0.45 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 7.79 | 0.96 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 7.52 | 0.09 lb |
| Black Crappie | 6.85 | 0.15 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.02 | 0.09 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.
Bluegill
Black Bullhead
Largemouth Bass
Hybrid Sunfish
From the 2017-07-24 survey
Silver Lake (72 acres and lake class 40) has maximum depth of 18 feet and littoral area of 71 acres. The lake is a heavily vegetated, shallow water basin that has a predominant Northern Pike - Largemouth Bass - Bluegill species composition. Eurasian watermilfoil was found in the lake in 1992. Since 1995, chemical…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Silver Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SilverFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SilverFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SilverPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Silver Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Silver Lake average 7.79 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 24, 2017. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–14 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 Silver Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Silver Lake is dated July 24, 2017. 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 Silver Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Silver 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 Silver Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Silver Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 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.
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