Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 20, 2016
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's Standard Survey on June 20, 2016 caught 3.00 walleye per gill net at Wright Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Wright Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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).
6 surveys on file · most recent 2016-06-20 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | 19.98 | 8–18 in 2011-08-17 | 1.67 lb |
| Bluegill | 14.18 | 2–9 in 2016-06-20 | 0.13 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 14.10 | 7–8 in 2016-06-20 | 0.85 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 10.84 | 4–6 in 2016-06-20 | 0.08 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 3.33 | 0.16 lb | |
| Northern Pike | 2.53 | 16–24 in 2016-06-20 | 2.15 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.
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's Standard Survey on June 20, 2016 caught 3.00 walleye per gill net at Wright 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 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.
Do the water-quality readings tell me how Wright Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Wright Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
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 Wright Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Wright Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Planning a trip to Wright Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Wright Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.