Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest May 29, 2013
Wanless Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Wanless Lake average 3.37 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 7 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 29, 2013. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 12–23 inches. In Lake County, Minnesota, Wanless Lake has no letter grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Water clarity averages 5.4 feet of visibility, and the lake has public access. 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 Wanless Lake
3 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 Wanless Lake
No stocking record for Wanless Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is an absence in the published record, not a confirmation that the lake is unstocked — some waters are managed as naturally reproducing and never appear in a stocking list at all.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Wanless Lake average 3.37 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 7 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 29, 2013. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 12–23 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Wanless Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2013-05-29 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 8.42 | 0.07 lb |
| White Sucker | 4.42 | 2.28 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.37 | 1.41 lb |
| Fathead Minnow | 0.38 | — |
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.
Yellow Perch
White Sucker
Northern Pike
From the 2013-05-29 survey
On May 29, 2013 a special assessment was performed using trap nets to assess the mid-range objective in the Lake Management Plan of determining survival and reproductive success of stocked Black Crappie. In late October 2002, 295 Black Crappie fingerlings were stocked, however; stocking records indicate that fish were…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Wanless Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WanlessFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Wanless (1114)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Wanless Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Wanless Lake average 3.37 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 7 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated May 29, 2013. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 12–23 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 3 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 Wanless Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Wanless Lake is dated May 29, 2013. 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 Wanless Lake stocked?
No stocking record for Wanless Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is not the same as a confirmed unstocked lake: it means no stocking document was published for it in the records this page draws on.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Wanless Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Wanless Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. 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 Wanless Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Wanless Lake
Planning a trip to Wanless Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Wanless Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.