Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 20, 2016
Species recorded at Thomas Lake
6 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 Thomas 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's Standard Survey on June 20, 2016 caught 0.40 largemouth bass per trap net at Thomas Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–17 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Thomas 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
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2016-06-20 (Standard Survey).
2 surveys on file · most recent 2016-06-20 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 20.80 | 3–7 in 2016-06-20 | 0.12 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 18.21 | 5–17 in 2016-06-20 | 1.09 lb |
| Golden Shiner | 2.40 | 6–8 in 2016-06-20 | 0.14 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 2.00 | 6 in 2016-06-20 | 0.23 lb |
| Black Crappie | 1.80 | 4–9 in 2016-06-20 | 0.24 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 0.60 | 6 in 2016-06-20 | 0.22 lb |
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
Largemouth Bass
Golden Shiner
Hybrid Sunfish
From the 2016-06-20 survey
Thomas Lake (unnamed 19006700) is located in the City of Eagan at the Thomas Lake Park. The park is managed by The City of Eagan Parks and Thomas Lake is co-managed by the City of Eagan Lakes and Wetlands Program and the MN DNR. The park has a fishing pier, shore fishing stations, boat access, restrooms, ample…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Thomas Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ThomasFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ThomasFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ThomasPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Thomas Lake?
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 20, 2016 caught 0.40 largemouth bass per trap net at Thomas Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–17 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 6 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 Thomas Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Thomas Lake is dated June 20, 2016. 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 Thomas Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Thomas 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 Thomas Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Thomas 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 Thomas Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Thomas Lake
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