Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 23, 2018
Species recorded at Sylvia Lake
19 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 Sylvia 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 Sylvia Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 23, 2018 caught 0.33 walleye per gill net at Sylvia Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Sylvia Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2018-07-23 (Standard Survey).
9 surveys on file · most recent 2018-07-23 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 43.45 | ||
| Bluegill | 14.26 | 4–8 in 2018-07-23 | 0.16 lb |
| Fathead Minnow | 13.89 |
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
From the 2018-07-23 survey
Sylvia Lake is a small, scenic lake in northern Stearns County about 5 miles north of Melrose. It's connected to Little Birch Lake via a short, but non-navigable channel. A fishing pier and shoreline fishing-site is located in Lake Sylvia County Park on the south end of the lake near the public boat access which is…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Sylvia Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SylviaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Sylvia (1983)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SylviaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SylviaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Sylvia Lake?
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 23, 2018 caught 0.33 walleye per gill net at Sylvia Lake. Minnesota DNR lists 19 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 Sylvia Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Sylvia Lake is dated July 23, 2018. 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 Sylvia Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Sylvia 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 Sylvia Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Sylvia Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 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
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 Sylvia Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Sylvia Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Planning a trip to Sylvia Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Sylvia Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.