Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 25, 2016
Wakefield Lake FishingDWater-quality grade D
Minnesota DNR surveys at Wakefield Lake average 6.13 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 4 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated July 25, 2016. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 20–25 inches. In Ramsey County, Minnesota, Wakefield Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of D. Water clarity averages 5.9 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 Wakefield Lake
5 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 Wakefield 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 Wakefield Lake average 6.13 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 4 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated July 25, 2016. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 20–25 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Wakefield Lake D 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
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2016-07-25 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 34.77 | 0.15 lb |
| Bluegill | 17.56 | 0.12 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 9.13 | 0.06 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.13 | 1.6 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 5.48 | 0.16 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
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
Northern Pike
From the 2016-07-25 survey
Wakefield Lake is 23 acres in size and has a maximum depth of approximately nine feet. Wakefield lake has been managed as part of the Fishing in the Neighborhood Program (FiN) since 2001 when the first fisheries population assessment was conducted. Prior to this time, fisheries management consisted of fish stocking in…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Wakefield Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WakefieldFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — WakefieldFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Wakefield Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Wakefield Lake average 6.13 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 4 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated July 25, 2016. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 20–25 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 5 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 Wakefield Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Wakefield Lake is dated July 25, 2016. 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 Wakefield Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Wakefield 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 Wakefield Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Wakefield Lake D 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.
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