Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest May 15, 2023
String Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at String Lake average 8.84 yellow perch per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 15, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 3–3 inches. In Cottonwood County, Minnesota, String Lake has no letter grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Water clarity averages 0.3 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 String Lake
11 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 String 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 String Lake average 8.84 yellow perch per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 15, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 3–3 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on String Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-05-15 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Fathead Minnow | 53.03 | — |
| Bigmouth Buffalo | 41.13 | 5.55 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 17.50 | 0.36 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 8.84 | 0.09 lb |
| Black Crappie | 5.38 | 0.13 lb |
| Common Carp | 5.05 | 5.06 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.
Bigmouth Buffalo
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Black Crappie
From the 2023-05-15 survey
String Lake is a 402-acre, class 42 lake located four miles west of the City of Windom in Cottonwood County. String Lake is comprised of three basins divided by roads but are connected by culverts that allow fish passage. String Lake is a shallow basin (max depth of 6.0 ft.) that experiences frequent partial…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for String Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — StringFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — StringFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — StringPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in String Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at String Lake average 8.84 yellow perch per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 15, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 3–3 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 11 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 String Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for String Lake is dated May 15, 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 String Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for String 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 String Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on String Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. 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 String Lake
Top-rated places to stay near String Lake
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