Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 3, 2020
Upper Sakatah Lake FishingFWater-quality grade F
Minnesota DNR surveys at Upper Sakatah Lake average 6.90 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated August 3, 2020. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–6 inches. In Le Sueur County, Minnesota, Upper Sakatah Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of F. Water clarity averages 3.0 feet of visibility, and there are 2 public boat landings. 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 Sakatah Lake
14 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 Sakatah 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
2 public boat landings are recorded on Upper Sakatah 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 Upper Sakatah Lake average 6.90 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated August 3, 2020. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–6 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Upper Sakatah Lake F from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is stable. 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: 2020-08-03 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 107.33 | 0.6 lb |
| Freshwater Drum | 20.01 | 0.87 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 6.90 | 0.99 lb |
| Walleye | 6.84 | 0.89 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 5.85 | 0.25 lb |
| White Bass | 5.82 | 0.74 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
Freshwater Drum
Largemouth Bass
Walleye
From the 2020-08-03 survey
Upper Sakatah Lake is an 881-acre lake located on the east side of the town of Waterville in Le Sueur County. It has a maximum depth of 12 feet. A boat access is located in Sakatah State Park on the south shore but it can also be accessed via the Cannon River. Upper Sakatah Lake is primarily managed for Walleye and…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Upper Sakatah Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Upper SakatahFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Upper SakatahFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Upper SakatahPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Upper Sakatah Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Upper Sakatah Lake average 6.90 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated August 3, 2020. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–6 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 14 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 Sakatah Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Upper Sakatah Lake is dated August 3, 2020. 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 Sakatah Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Upper Sakatah 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 Sakatah Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Upper Sakatah Lake F from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 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.
Where to stay near Upper Sakatah Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Upper Sakatah Lake
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