Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest September 13, 2023
Tyson Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Tyson Lake average 48.29 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated September 13, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–12 inches. In Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota, Tyson Lake has no letter grade — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Water clarity averages 4.5 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 Tyson Lake
8 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 Tyson 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 Tyson Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Tyson Lake average 48.29 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated September 13, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–12 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 Tyson Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 5 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: 2023-09-13 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 150.80 | 0.22 lb |
| Walleye | 48.29 | 1.33 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 10.61 | 0.33 lb |
| Bluegill | 7.08 | 0.32 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 3.22 | 0.17 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.
Black Bullhead
Walleye
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
From the 2023-09-13 survey
A targeted fall night electrofishing survey was conducted on Tyson during September 13, 2023 to evaluate young of year "YOY" (fingerling sized) Walleye numbers due to fry stocking/natural reproduction. One station was sampled for 10 minutes at dusk. The water temperature was 70 F. Water clarity was poor (6 inches)…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Tyson Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — TysonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — TysonFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — TysonPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Tyson Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Tyson Lake average 48.29 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated September 13, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–12 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 8 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 Tyson Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Tyson Lake is dated September 13, 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 Tyson Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Tyson 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 Tyson 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 Tyson Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 5 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 Tyson Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Tyson Lake
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