Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 21, 1985
Velvet Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Velvet Lake average 2.33 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 1 survey. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 21, 1985. In Crow Wing County, Minnesota, Velvet Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 10.5 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.
Stocking at Velvet 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 Velvet Lake average 2.33 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 1 survey. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 21, 1985.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Velvet Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1985-08-21 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 14.50 | 0.11 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 10.16 | 0.53 lb |
| Black Crappie | 2.83 | 0.19 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 2.33 | 0.38 lb |
| Walleye | 2.00 | 3.67 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.00 | 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.
From the 1985-08-21 survey
NORTHERN PIKE ABUNDANCE IS LOW (2.3 GILLNET) BUT A GOOD LENGTH FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION EXISTS AND THE GROWTH RATE IS GOOD. YELLOW BULLHEAD ABUNDANCE IS GOOD WITH ALL SIZE CLASSES PRESENT. BLUEGILL ABUNDANCE IS MODERATE, GROWTH RATE SLOW, THE SIZE SMALL AND MAJORITY OF THE BLUEGILLS BELONG TO THE III, IV OR V YEAR CLASS…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Velvet Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — VelvetFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — VelvetFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Velvet Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Velvet Lake average 2.33 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 1 survey. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 21, 1985. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Velvet Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Velvet Lake is dated August 21, 1985. 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 Velvet Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Velvet 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 Velvet Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Velvet Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. 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 Velvet Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Velvet Lake
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