Bde Maka Ska Lake
Hennepin County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 27003100
DNR records show 18 stocking entries at Bde Maka Ska Lake since 2016, most recently muskellunge fingerlings in 2025 (123 fish).
- Bde Maka Ska Lake has 18 DNR stocking records across 8 years (2016-2025): walleye (9), muskellunge (6), least darter (2), black crappie (1).
- The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 8,529 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 82 ft, mean depth 30 ft; surface area 424 acres, 123 littoral acres, 3.1 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 11.7 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, and 2 more.
- 2 public accesses on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- Hennepin County, nearest town Minneapolis; DNR lake number (DOW) 27003100.
Depth map
Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 9/12/1980 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Muskellunge9 | fingerlings | 123 | 41.7 |
| 2025 | Walleye | yearlings | 1,663 | 123.0 |
| 2024 | Black Crappie | adults | 496 | 195.0 |
| 2024 | Muskellunge | fingerlings | 123 | 20.3 |
| 2023 | Walleye | fingerlings | 492 | 43.5 |
| 2023 | Walleye | fingerlings | 1,385 | 81.0 |
| 2022 | Muskellunge | fingerlings | 123 | 17.6 |
| 2022 | Walleye2 | fingerlings | 2,091 | 123.0 |
| 2019 | Least Darter | adults | 85 | - |
| 2019 | Muskellunge | fingerlings | 123 | 41.0 |
| 2019 | Walleye | fingerlings | 600 | 30.0 |
| 2019 | Walleye | fingerlings | 2,154 | 122.4 |
| 2018 | Muskellunge | fingerlings | 123 | 14.3 |
| 2017 | Least Darter | adults | 86 | - |
| 2017 | Walleye | yearlings | 98 | 55.0 |
| 2017 | Walleye | adults | 20 | 34.0 |
| 2017 | Walleye | fingerlings | 26 | 5.2 |
| 2016 | Muskellunge | fingerlings | 123 | 21.4 |
2 fish purchased by the DNR for stocking. 9 fish cooperatively purchased, raised, and/or stocked by DNR and other agencies or sporting groups.
Field note · Minnesota stocks by year, not by truck day: walleye fry go in within weeks of ice-out, fingerlings and yearlings mostly in fall, and stream trout in spring and fall. A row here means the fish went in during that year; DNR adds the year's rows after the fact, so the current year can look empty until winter.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| concrete ramp | city | Parking off-site & limited for boat-trailer combinations. Electric motor use only; other motors may remain attached but must be propped up. Since 2013 and current to this (summer 2014) update, City-imposed inspections for aquatic invasive species include evening / overnight ramp closures. Craft that can be carried across other access points (or accessed via channel connected to Lake of the Isles) are allowed during all open park hours, subject to Minneapolis Parks rules. Contact or check web site of City of Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board for lake-use details or questions. |
| CA | city | The canoe/kayak rack location (seasonal fee permits required for rack use; adjacent parking is a fee lot) and multiple points along the shore allow free access for carry-in craft (subject to park hours and rules; vehicles subject to applicable parking restrictions-- and fees in certain locations). View Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board web site or contact information for further access / use information. |
DNR fish survey, 2024
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 58.11 | 523 | 0.08 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 8.44 | 76 | 0.29 |
| Hybrid sunfish | Standard trap nets | 2.00 | 18 | 0.23 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard trap nets | 1.89 | 17 | 0.15 |
| Northern pike | Standard trap nets | 0.89 | 8 | 2.42 |
| Green sunfish | Standard trap nets | 0.33 | 3 | 0.04 |
| Common carp | Standard trap nets | 0.11 | 1 | 10.33 |
| Yellow bullhead | Standard trap nets | 0.11 | 1 | 1.70 |
| Bluegill | Standard gill nets | 13.88 | 111 | 0.15 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 10.50 | 84 | 2.58 |
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 2.88 | 23 | 0.09 |
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 1.62 | 13 | 2.69 |
| Black crappie | Standard gill nets | 0.50 | 4 | 0.36 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard gill nets | 0.50 | 4 | 0.10 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard gill nets | 0.25 | 2 | 0.31 |
| Green sunfish | Standard gill nets | 0.12 | 1 | 0.12 |
Catch per net (CPUE) is the DNR survey's count per gill net or trap net set; higher means more of that species were sampled, not a fishing forecast. Top species per gear shown; where we have no verified common name for a DNR code, the code itself is shown.
Bde Maka Ska is a 419-acre (123 littoral acres) lake with a maximum depth of 82 feet. Bde Maka Ska is located in south Minneapolis in eastern Hennepin County. Bde Maka Ska is primarily managed for Walleye (fingerling stocked in odd-numbered years) and Muskellunge (fingerling stocked during even-numbered years) but includes catchable populations of Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Black Crappie. Public water access is provided by the City of Minneapolis on the northeast side of the lake off West Lake Street and Bde Maka Ska Pkwy (limited vehicle/trailer parking is available). A Standard Survey (9 trap nets/8 gill nets) was conducted on Bde Maka Ska during the week of 6/24/2024 to monitor water quality and fish populations. Water clarity was moderate with a measured Secchi reading of 8 feet during the time of this survey. Dissolved oxygen fell below 2 parts per million (ppm) below 44 feet, meaning fish would be unlikely to use water depths greater than 44 feet during mid-summer. Zebra Mussels and Eurasian Watermilfoil have been documented in Bde Maka Ska and remain present. Low numbers of Walleye were sampled with gill nets (1.6/net), near the expected catch rate of similar lakes. Average length of Walleye sampled in gill nets was 18.7 inches with the largest measured at 26.3 inches. Despite no natural reproduction, stocking has maintained a balanced population (a middle ground between high numbers of small fish and low numbers of large fish). Results from the 2024 survey sampled Walleye from the previous seven stocking events, including 1- and 15-year-old fish. Walleye growth in Bde Maka Ska was fast compared to similar lakes across the metro, indicated by an average length of 17.6 inches by age 3. Although numbers are not high, these fish are surviving their initial stocking, growing fast, and living to old ages. High numbers of Northern Pike were sampled with gill nets (10.5/net), above the expected catch rate of similar lakes. There were 84 Northern Pike sampled in gill nets in 2024, with an average size of 22.5 inches and the largest measured at 32.8 inches. Despite high numbers and small sizes, Bde Maka Ska provides excellent harvest opportunity with a possession limit of 10 and nearly 75% of sampled fish falling outside of the protected slot (22 to 26 inches). Despite an excellent opportunity for harvest, anglers should check the latest fish consumption guidelines (https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/fish/index.html). High numbers of Bluegill were sampled with trap nets (58.1/net), near the expected catch rate of…
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
All Minnesota stockings · every Minnesota lake with a page · state CSV · this lake on DNR LakeFinder
Stocking rows, depths, accesses and survey figures are Minnesota DNR LakeFinder data as of 2026-09-02; contours are the DNR bathymetric survey. Regulations, slot limits and special rules are on the DNR page linked above, not here.
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