Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 1, 2025
Upper Red Lake FishingDWater-quality grade D
Minnesota DNR surveys at Upper Red Lake average 30.75 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 34 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 1, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 1–21 inches. In Beltrami County, Minnesota, Upper Red Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of D. Water clarity averages 2.0 feet of visibility. 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 Upper Red Lake
15 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 Upper Red 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.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Upper Red Lake average 30.75 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 34 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 1, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 1–21 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Upper Red Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
34 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-01 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 30.75 | 1.07 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 22.12 | 0.26 lb |
| Black Crappie | 1.73 | 0.79 lb |
| Northern Pike | 1.57 | 3.33 lb |
| Freshwater Drum | 1.24 | 1.2 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.
Walleye
Yellow Perch
Black Crappie
Northern Pike
From the 2025-07-01 survey
Upper Red Lake is a 120,000 acre lake, 60% (72,000 acres) of which is under the jurisdiction of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians (Red Lake Band). The remaining 40% (48,000 acres) falls under the jurisdiction of the State of Minnesota. Walleye, the primary species sought by anglers, is managed under a cooperative…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Upper Red Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Red (Upper Red)Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Red (Upper Red)Fish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Upper Red Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Upper Red Lake average 30.75 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 34 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 1, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 1–21 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 15 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 Upper Red Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Upper Red Lake is dated July 1, 2025. 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 Upper Red Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Upper Red 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 Upper Red Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Upper Red Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. 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.
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