Chisago Lake
Chisago County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 13001200
DNR records show 6 stocking entries at Chisago Lake since 2016, most recently walleye fingerlings in 2024 (11,900 fish).
- Chisago Lake has 6 DNR stocking records across 5 years (2016-2024): walleye (6).
- The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 751,250 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 34 ft; surface area 944 acres, 694 littoral acres, 13.2 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 4.3 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, and 2 more.
- 5 public accesses on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (targeted survey).
- Chisago County, nearest town Chisago City; DNR lake number (DOW) 13001200.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye2 | fingerlings | 11,900 | 700.0 |
| 2022 | Walleye2 | fingerlings | 14,595 | 695.0 |
| 2020 | Walleye2 | fingerlings | 10,208 | 576.0 |
| 2020 | Walleye2 | fingerlings | 3,927 | 119.0 |
| 2018 | Walleye2 | fingerlings | 10,620 | 695.0 |
| 2016 | Walleye | fry | 700,000 | 6.2 |
2 fish purchased by the DNR for stocking.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| asphalt ramp | Minnesota DNR | Large parking area. |
| concrete ramp | Minnesota DNR | - A new (1994) state-owned access is located off of Stinson Ave. in the channel area of the SW end of South Lindstrom Lake. Parking for 70. |
| O | city | - A winter drive-on access off of Lake Ave. located in the NW end of Chisago Lake. Street parking not available during open-water season. |
| earthen ramp | PRI | - Rose Hill Resort. Fee for boat launch and/or rental available. Located on the N. end of S. Lindstrom Lake. |
| O | city | - Paradise City Park. Playground and public beach with life guard on duty. Located on the N. end of Chisago Lake off of Stinson Ave. |
DNR fish survey, 2022
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bass | Standard electrofishing | 74.90 | 47 | 1.33 |
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 45.70 | 457 | 0.10 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 8.50 | 85 | 0.31 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard trap nets | 5.40 | 54 | 0.31 |
| Hybrid sunfish | Standard trap nets | 1.80 | 18 | 0.32 |
| Northern pike | Standard trap nets | 0.20 | 2 | 5.58 |
| Yellow bullhead | Standard trap nets | 0.10 | 1 | 0.35 |
| Walleye | Standard trap nets | 0.10 | 1 | 5.66 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard trap nets | 0.10 | 1 | 2.94 |
| Bluegill | Standard gill nets | 22.30 | 223 | 0.15 |
| Black crappie | Standard gill nets | 16.80 | 168 | 0.14 |
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 7.10 | 71 | 0.10 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard gill nets | 5.80 | 58 | 0.19 |
| Yellow bullhead | Standard gill nets | 2.70 | 27 | 1.18 |
| Black bullhead | Standard gill nets | 2.40 | 24 | 1.59 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 2.10 | 21 | 3.77 |
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 2.10 | 21 | 2.11 |
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.
Chisago Lake is a moderately fertile 944 acre lake located in southern Chisago County bordering Chisago City. The lake is broadly connected to South Lindstrom Lake by a natural channel. Either lake can be accessed by a concrete public boat ramp located in the channel between lakes. The two lakes are somewhat physically different with South Lindstrom having a smaller percentage of littoral (water less than 15 feet deep) acreage (42%) than Chisago (80%). The channel allows fish to migrate freely between the two lakes. Currently, the primary management species are Walleye and Largemouth Bass. The Walleye population is maintained by stocking fingerlings in even numbered years. There is currently a special regulation on Largemouth Bass limiting harvest to fish less than 12 inches in length. A survey consisting of 6 gill net and 9 trap net sets was conducted in July 2022 to assess fish populations. The previous survey was conducted in 2018. Walleye were sampled by gill nets at a rate of 2.1 fish per net compared to 5.4 fish per net in 2018. This is a decline in the catch rate for this lake. Average weight was at 2.1 lbs. Fish ranged from 10.8 to 25.8 inches in length with an average of 17.8 inches. Eighty one percent of the catch was over 15.0 inches during the 2022 survey on Chisago Lake. The Northern Pike gill net catch of 2.1 fish per net was low for this lake, but relative to previous surveys. Average weight of pike was 4.2 lbs. Lengths ranged from 18.0 to 33.5 inches and averaged 26.3 inches. Several fish over 30 inches in length were sampled. Fifty percent of the pike caught were over 26 inches. Angler can expect to catch good numbers of hefty pike throughout the lake. Trap nets sampled Bluegill at a rate of 45.7 fish per net compared to 37.5 fish per net in 2018, which is a good catch rate for lakes of this type in the area. Average size was moderate for Bluegill at 0.24 lbs. Bluegills averaged 6.7 inches and all lengths were between 0.7 to 8.3 inches. Black Crappie were sampled at a rate of 16.8 fish per gill net which is above average for lakes of this type. Average weight was at 0.2 lbs. Fish length ranged from 4.6 to 9.7 inches and averaged 7.0 inches. Thirty-five percent of the gill net catch for crappies was over 8.0 inches. Yellow Perch numbers are up from the 2018 survey of 1.9 per net to 7.1 per net in 2022, which is average when compared to similar lakes. Size was small with a mean weight of 0.13 lbs. Fish length ranged from 5.5 to 8.6 inches and averaged 6.5 inches. Nighttime electrofishing for Largemouth Bass was conducted in early June.…
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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Stocking rows, depths, accesses and survey figures are Minnesota DNR LakeFinder data as of 2026-09-02. Regulations, slot limits and special rules are on the DNR page linked above, not here.
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