Skip to main content
LakeQuality

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 3, 2009

Store Lake FishingFWater-quality grade F

Minnesota DNR surveys at Store Lake average 1.56 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 4 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 3, 2009. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–19 inches. In Polk County, Minnesota, Store Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of F. Water clarity averages 6.9 feet of visibility. 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.

Stocking at Store 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.

Survey results in full

DNR fisheries survey

Minnesota DNR surveys at Store Lake average 1.56 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 4 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 3, 2009. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–19 inches.

A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Store Lake F from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.

DNR Fisheries Survey Summary

4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2009-08-03 (Standard Survey).

Top Species by Catch Rate

SpeciesAvg catch rate (CPUE)Avg Weight
Yellow Perch45.380.17 lb
Brown Bullhead34.640.71 lb
Bluegill12.580.23 lb
Black Bullhead2.890.77 lb
Walleye1.562.16 lb
White Sucker1.113.05 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.

Yellow Perch

348 fish · 510 in · 1999-07-06
1165805678910

Brown Bullhead

17 fish · 414 in · 2009-08-03
7404567891011121314

Bluegill

2 fish · 33 in · 2009-08-03
2103

Black Bullhead

26 fish · 612 in · 1994-07-05
14706789101112

From the 2009-08-03 survey

Store (Peterson) Lake is a 52-acre, eutrophic lake in eastern Polk county that is currently vulnerable to winterkill. The lake and its fish community have undergone dramatic changes since it was first surveyed in 1983. At the time of the 1983 survey, Store was not considered a winterkill lake. Water clarity was good…

Source: MN DNR LakeFinder Fisheries Lake Survey

DNR Reports & Resources

Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Store Lake. 2 reports on file.

These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).

Common questions

What fish are in Store Lake?

Minnesota DNR surveys at Store Lake average 1.56 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 4 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 3, 2009. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–19 inches. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.

When was Store Lake last surveyed?

The most recent fisheries survey on file for Store Lake is dated August 3, 2009. 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 Store Lake stocked?

Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Store 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 Store Lake fishes?

A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Store Lake F from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. 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 Store Lake

Top-rated places to stay near Store Lake

See the full where-to-stay map for Store Lake

Planning a trip to Store Lake?

Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Store Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.