Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 29, 2024
Species recorded at Wilkins 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 Wilkins 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
1 public boat landing is recorded on Wilkins Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 29, 2024 caught 2.22 walleye per gill net at Wilkins Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Wilkins Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-29 (Standard Survey).
11 surveys on file · most recent 2024-07-29 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 63.10 | ||
| Bluegill | 32.66 | 3–9 in 2024-07-29 | 0.2 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 7.50 | 4–18 in 2024-07-29 | 0.77 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 5.44 | 5–10 in 2019-07-29 | 0.22 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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
From the 2024-07-29 survey
Wilkins Lake is moderately sized (372 acres) with clear water and is located in central Aitkin County. There is a township-owned public access with a concrete log ramp without a dock, located on the east side of the lake. The surrounding area is a mixture of forest-covered rolling hills with various wetland types…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Wilkins Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WilkinsFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Wilkins (0086)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — WilkinsFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WilkinsPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Wilkins Lake?
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 29, 2024 caught 2.22 walleye per gill net at Wilkins 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 Wilkins Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Wilkins Lake is dated July 29, 2024. 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 Wilkins Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Wilkins 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.
Do the water-quality readings tell me how Wilkins Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Wilkins Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is stable. 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 Wilkins Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Wilkins Lake
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