Lee Lake

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

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 14004900

DNR records show 18 stocking entries at Lee Lake since 2017, most recently walleye adults in 2025 (508 fish).

• Lee Lake has 18 DNR stocking records across 6 years (2017-2025): walleye (10), black crappie (3), bluegill sunfish (3), largemouth bass (2).
• The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 95,854 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 36 ft; surface area 158 acres, 86 littoral acres, 4.5 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 10.5 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, and 1 more.
• 1 public access on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: August 3, 2023 (targeted survey).
• Clay County, nearest town Hawley; DNR lake number (DOW) 14004900.

Depth map

Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 8/28/1964 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.

Stocking history

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2023

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.

Lee Lake is a 134-acre lake located in eastern Clay County. Some new development of lakeshore has occurred since 2011, but overall, the shoreline is the same as it was in the 1960's. Anglers reported poor fishing on Lee Lake and questioned the possibility of winterkill occurring during the winter of 2022-2023. This targeted fisheries survey was completed in August 2023 to assess the status of the fish populations. One gill net and five special trap nets were used to sample Lee Lake. Both gears captured Black Bullhead, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch. The average size of Northern Pike sampled was 16 inches while the average size of Yellow Perch was 6.5 inches. No Bluegill or Largemouth Bass were captured or observed in shallow water. As a result, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Black Crappie were reintroduced during 2023. Angling opportunities for Northern Pike are still available, but it will take a few years to have quality fishing for other species.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, August 3, 2023.

All Minnesota stockings · every Minnesota lake with a page · state CSV · this lake on DNR LakeFinder