Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest May 14, 2025
Steamboat Bay Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Steamboat Bay Lake average 31.79 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 33 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated May 14, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 2–26 inches. In Cass County, Minnesota, Steamboat Bay Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 9.8 feet of visibility, and the lake has public access. 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 Steamboat Bay Lake
18 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 Steamboat Bay 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
Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Steamboat Bay Lake average 31.79 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 33 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated May 14, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 2–26 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Steamboat Bay Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
33 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-05-14 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 260.48 | 0.21 lb |
| Walleye | 31.79 | 0.82 lb |
| Spottail Shiner | 15.94 | — |
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.
Yellow Perch
Walleye
Spottail Shiner
From the 2025-05-14 survey
Leech Lake is the third largest lake entirely within the boundaries of Minnesota and has approximately 112,000 surface acres. The lake has an irregular shape with a variety of large and small bays. The deepest area of the lake is in Walker Bay where depths approach 160 feet. Approximately 80% of the lake is less than…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Steamboat Bay Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LeechFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Leech (1567)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — LeechFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — LeechPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Steamboat Bay Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Steamboat Bay Lake average 31.79 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 33 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated May 14, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 2–26 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 18 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 Steamboat Bay Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Steamboat Bay Lake is dated May 14, 2025. 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 Steamboat Bay Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Steamboat Bay 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 Steamboat Bay Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Steamboat Bay Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. 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 Steamboat Bay Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Steamboat Bay Lake
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