Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 18, 2008
Species recorded at Watab 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 Watab Lake
No stocking record for Watab 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's Standard Survey on August 18, 2008 caught 0.50 walleye per gill net at Watab Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Watab Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. 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: 2008-08-18 (Standard Survey).
4 surveys on file · most recent 2008-08-18 (Standard Survey)
18 years old| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 30.81 | 2–19 in 2008-08-18 | 0.6 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 27.11 | 0.26 lb | |
| Bluegill | 7.85 | 1–6 in 2008-08-18 | 0.19 lb |
| Black Crappie | 4.89 | 6–7 in 2008-08-18 | 0.25 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.46 | 3 in 2008-08-18 | 0.05 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 3.92 | 2–17 in 2008-08-18 | 1.78 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Pumpkinseed
From the 2008-08-18 survey
Watab-Rossier Lakes are located in Stearns County, two miles north of the City of St. Joseph. The lakes are relatively deep, and the Watab River flows through them on its way to the Mississippi. Watab (Long) is a recreational development lake while Rossier (Rose) is a natural environment lake. There is a private…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Watab Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WatabFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Watab Lake?
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 18, 2008 caught 0.50 walleye per gill net at Watab Lake. 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 Watab Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Watab Lake is dated August 18, 2008. 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 Watab Lake stocked?
No stocking record for Watab 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.
Do the water-quality readings tell me how Watab Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Watab Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
Water-quality readings are 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 with clear, low-nutrient water can still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Watab Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Watab Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Planning a trip to Watab Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Watab Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.