Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 22, 2024
Third Crow Wing Lake FishingBWater-quality grade B
Minnesota DNR surveys at Third Crow Wing Lake average 6.86 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 13 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 22, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–14 inches. In Hubbard County, Minnesota, Third Crow Wing Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of B. Water clarity averages 2.5 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 Third Crow Wing 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 Third Crow Wing 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 Third Crow Wing Lake average 6.86 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 13 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 22, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–14 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Third Crow Wing Lake B 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
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-22 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 24.54 | 0.09 lb |
| Bluegill | 10.24 | 0.18 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 7.57 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 6.86 | 1.14 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
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
From the 2024-07-22 survey
Third Crow Wing Lake is located six miles south of Nevis in southern Hubbard County. Third Crow Wing is part of a chain of lakes running from Eleventh Crow Wing Lake at the headwaters, down to First Crow Wing Lake. Third Crow Wing Lake has a surface area of 643 acres and a maximum depth of 35 feet. A DNR-owned public…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Third Crow Wing Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Third Crow WingFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Third Crow Wing (1292)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Third Crow WingFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Third Crow WingPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Third Crow Wing Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Third Crow Wing Lake average 6.86 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 13 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 22, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–14 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 Third Crow Wing Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Third Crow Wing Lake is dated July 22, 2024. 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 Third Crow Wing Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Third Crow Wing 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 Third Crow Wing Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Third Crow Wing Lake B 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 Third Crow Wing Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Third Crow Wing Lake
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