Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 20, 2016
Wright Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Wright Lake average 19.98 smallmouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 6 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 20, 2016. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–18 inches. In Otter Tail County, Minnesota, Wright Lake has no letter grade — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Water clarity averages 13.7 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 Wright 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 Wright 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
Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Wright Lake average 19.98 smallmouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 6 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 20, 2016. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–18 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 Wright Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2016-06-20 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | 19.98 | 1.67 lb |
| Bluegill | 14.18 | 0.13 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 14.10 | 0.85 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 10.84 | 0.08 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 3.33 | 0.16 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.53 | 2.15 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.
Smallmouth Bass
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
From the 2016-06-20 survey
Wright Lake is a 63-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located within the city limits of Fergus Falls, MN. Wright Lake is connected to Hoot Lake via a navigable inlet along the north shoreline that is a portion of the Otter Tail River. The city water plant is located at the outlet along the west shoreline. The…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Wright Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WrightFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — WrightFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — WrightPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Wright Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Wright Lake average 19.98 smallmouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 6 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 20, 2016. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–18 inches. 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 Wright Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Wright Lake is dated June 20, 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 Wright Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Wright 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 Wright 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 Wright Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 3 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 Wright Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Wright Lake
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