Skip to main content
LakeQuality

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 1, 2011

Tanners Lake FishingCWater-quality grade C

Minnesota DNR surveys at Tanners Lake average 32.64 bluegill per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 1, 2011. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 2–7 inches. In Washington County, Minnesota, Tanners Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of C. Water clarity averages 6.6 feet of visibility, and there is one public boat landing. 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 Tanners Lake

10 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 Tanners 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 Tanners Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.

Survey results in full

DNR fisheries survey

Minnesota DNR surveys at Tanners Lake average 32.64 bluegill per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 1, 2011. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 2–7 inches.

A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Tanners Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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

11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2011-08-01 (Standard Survey).

Top Species by Catch Rate

SpeciesAvg catch rate (CPUE)Avg Weight
Bluegill32.640.13 lb
Yellow Perch9.370.11 lb
Black Bullhead4.900.73 lb
Hybrid Sunfish4.700.1 lb
Pumpkinseed4.190.09 lb
Black Crappie3.740.15 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.

Bluegill

114 fish · 27 in · 2011-08-01
42210234567

Yellow Perch

12 fish · 57 in · 2011-08-01
840567

Black Bullhead

10 fish · 812 in · 2005-08-08
32089101112

Hybrid Sunfish

14 fish · 26 in · 2011-08-01
42023456

From the 2011-08-01 survey

Bluegills are the most abundant species in Tanners Lake. The population is considered average when comparing similar lakes. The average size found was 5.26 inches. Only 27.8% of the bluegills sampled exceeded 6 inches in length. Black crappies were also sampled in average abundance. Their average size was 6.17 inches.…

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 Tanners Lake. 3 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 Tanners Lake?

Minnesota DNR surveys at Tanners Lake average 32.64 bluegill per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 1, 2011. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 2–7 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 10 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 Tanners Lake last surveyed?

The most recent fisheries survey on file for Tanners Lake is dated August 1, 2011. 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 Tanners Lake stocked?

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

A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Tanners Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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

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 Tanners Lake

Top-rated places to stay near Tanners Lake

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

Planning a trip to Tanners Lake?

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