Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 4, 2025
Waconia Lake FishingCWater-quality grade C
Minnesota DNR surveys at Waconia Lake average 3.48 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 16 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 4, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 11–26 inches. In Carver County, Minnesota, Waconia Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of C. Water clarity averages 7.3 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 Waconia Lake
16 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 Waconia 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 Waconia 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 Waconia Lake average 3.48 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 16 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 4, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 11–26 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Waconia Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
16 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-04 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 27.47 | 0.14 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 8.90 | 0.11 lb |
| Black Crappie | 8.70 | 0.24 lb |
| Freshwater Drum | 5.72 | 2.57 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.96 | 0.16 lb |
| Walleye | 3.48 | 2.09 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.
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Black Crappie
Freshwater Drum
From the 2025-08-04 survey
Lake Waconia is 3080-acres (1660 littoral acres) with a maximum depth of 37 feet. Lake Waconia is located north of the City of Waconia in central Carver County. Waconia is primarily managed for Walleye (special regulation: 16 inch minimum length) and Muskellunge. Walleye are fingerling-stocked at 1 pound per littoral…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Waconia Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WaconiaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — WaconiaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WaconiaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Waconia Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Waconia Lake average 3.48 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 16 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 4, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 11–26 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 16 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 Waconia Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Waconia Lake is dated August 4, 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 Waconia Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Waconia 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 Waconia Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Waconia Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
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 Waconia Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Waconia Lake
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