Erie Lake

Meeker County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 47006400

DNR records show 5 stocking entries at Erie Lake since 2016, most recently walleye fry in 2024 (41,465 fish).

• Erie Lake has 5 DNR stocking records across 4 years (2016-2024): walleye (5).
• The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 87,838 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 34 ft; surface area 190 acres, 82 littoral acres, 3.1 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 6.4 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch.
• 1 public access on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: March 26, 2025 (targeted survey).
• Meeker County, nearest town Darwin; DNR lake number (DOW) 47006400.

Depth map

Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 7/2/1968 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.

Stocking history

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2025

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.

Erie is a small lake (189 acres) located south of the Town of Darwin. A small sized state-owned access, with a single cement boat ramp, is present on the south shore. Erie has three miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of thirty-four feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Erie is a class 24 lake and other similar lakes in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Francis and Little Swan Lakes in Meeker County. Erie is primarily managed for Largemouth Bass and Walleye. Ice-out trap netting was primarily conducted to monitor Erie's Northern Pike population. Other bycatch, except for Walleye, was not entered into the database, but field notes were recorded. Northern Pike were present in low numbers, but average length was outstanding (26 inches). Maximum pike length was a respectable 33 inches. Approximately 50 percent of the pike catch was above the north-central pike zone's 22 to 26 inch protected slot limit regulation. Only one Walleye was encountered, but the water was still too cold, and this species had not yet begun their spawning run. The Walleye was just under 25 inches in length. Bycatch included many small - Bluegill, Black Crappie, Pumpkinseed, Green Sunfish, Golden Shiner and Hybrid Sunfish. Much lower numbers of Bowfin (dogfish), Largemouth Bass and Common Carp were also netted, and released. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Over harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. Erie Lake has the AIS Eurasian watermilfoil. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local DNR office. Additional information on all these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, March 26, 2025.

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