Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 14, 2021
Zumbro Lake FishingDWater-quality grade D
Minnesota DNR surveys at Zumbro Lake average 26.09 smallmouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 13 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated June 14, 2021. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–19 inches. In Olmsted County, Minnesota, Zumbro Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of D. Water clarity averages 4.0 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 Zumbro Lake
24 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.
- black bullhead
- black crappie
- bluegill
- channel catfish
- common carp
- freshwater drum
- golden redhorse
- hybrid sunfish
- largemouth bass
- muskellunge
- northern pike
- quillback
- redhorse
- river carpsucker
- river redhorse
- shorthead redhorse
- silver redhorse
- smallmouth bass
- walleye
- white bass
- white crappie
- white sucker
- yellow bullhead
- yellow perch
Stocking at Zumbro 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 Zumbro 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 Zumbro Lake average 26.09 smallmouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 13 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated June 14, 2021. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–19 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Zumbro Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
13 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-06-14 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | 26.09 | 0.94 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 17.09 | 0.85 lb |
| Channel Catfish | 7.79 | 2.23 lb |
| Walleye | 4.66 | 1.77 lb |
| Golden Redhorse | 4.60 | 1.89 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 4.58 | 0.19 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
Largemouth Bass
Channel Catfish
Walleye
From the 2021-06-14 survey
Lake Zumbro is a large reservoir on the Zumbro River. It is a popular recreation and fishing lake due to its proximity to Rochester, MN. The primary gamefish in the reservoir are Bluegill, Black Crappie, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and Northern Pike. A walleye stocking program was initiated in…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Zumbro Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ZumbroFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ZumbroFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ZumbroPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Zumbro Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Zumbro Lake average 26.09 smallmouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 13 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated June 14, 2021. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–19 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 24 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 Zumbro Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Zumbro Lake is dated June 14, 2021. 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 Zumbro Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Zumbro 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 Zumbro Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Zumbro Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 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
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 Zumbro Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Zumbro Lake
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