Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 7, 2023
Species recorded at South Center Lake
14 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 South Center 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 South Center 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 7, 2023 caught 0.17 walleye per gill net at South Center Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows South Center Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-08-07 (Targeted Survey).
14 surveys on file · most recent 2023-08-07 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 63.34 | 3–7 in 2023-08-07 | 0.14 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 53.54 | ||
| Largemouth Bass | 23.75 | 5–19 in 2023-08-07 | 1.08 lb |
| Black Crappie | 14.43 | 4–12 in 2023-08-07 | 0.2 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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Black Crappie
From the 2023-08-07 survey
South Center Lake is an 835 acre lake in southern Chisago County best suited for Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Black Crappie. Although much of the lake is less than 15 feet (561 acres or 67%), the lake has a maximum depth of 109 feet. Water clarity is low, with visibility to only 3 feet. A high amount of…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for South Center Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — South CenterFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — South CenterFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — South CenterPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in South Center Lake?
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 7, 2023 caught 0.17 walleye per gill net at South Center Lake. Minnesota DNR lists 14 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 South Center Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for South Center Lake is dated August 7, 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 South Center Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for South Center 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 South Center Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows South Center Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. 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 South Center Lake
Top-rated places to stay near South Center Lake
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