Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 11, 2025
Wilson Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Wilson Lake average 8.96 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 11, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–26 inches. In Lake County, Minnesota, Wilson Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 10.7 feet of visibility, and there is one public boat landing. 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 Wilson Lake
4 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 Wilson Lake
No stocking record for Wilson 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.
Getting on the water
1 public boat landing is recorded on Wilson 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 Wilson Lake average 8.96 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 11, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–26 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Wilson Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. 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: 2025-08-11 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 27.14 | 0.16 lb |
| Walleye | 8.96 | 1.15 lb |
| White Sucker | 7.73 | 1.8 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.
Yellow Perch
Walleye
White Sucker
From the 2025-08-11 survey
Wilson Lake is located 11 miles northwest of Schroeder within the Superior National Forest. There is a public water access with a concrete log ramp on the south end of the lake off Forest Service Road 170 (Four Mile Grade). The fish community is maintained entirely through natural reproduction, and a standard survey…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Wilson Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WilsonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Wilson (0978)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WilsonPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Wilson Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Wilson Lake average 8.96 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 11, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–26 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 4 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 Wilson Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Wilson Lake is dated August 11, 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 Wilson Lake stocked?
No stocking record for Wilson 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 Wilson Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Wilson Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. 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 Wilson Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Wilson Lake
Planning a trip to Wilson Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Wilson Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.