Mud Lake (Traverse County)
Traverse County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 78002400
DNR records show 4 stocking entries at Mud Lake (Traverse County) since 2017, most recently walleye fry in 2023 (1,500,000 fish).
- Mud Lake (Traverse County) has 4 DNR stocking records across 4 years (2017-2023): walleye (4).
- The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 3,000,000 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 6 ft; surface area 2,449 acres, 1,526 littoral acres, 33.9 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 1.6 ft.
- 2 public accesses on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- Traverse County, nearest town Wheaton; DNR lake number (DOW) 78002400.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Walleye | fry | 1,500,000 | 12.6 |
| 2021 | Walleye | fry | 500,000 | 4.2 |
| 2019 | Walleye | fry | 500,000 | 4.0 |
| 2017 | Walleye | fry | 500,000 | 4.3 |
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 | Army Corps of Engineers | - The Reservation Dam Recreation Area just below Lake Traverse on the south end of Mud lake has shorefishing and boat access. There is approx. 1 mile channel to reach Mud Lake from the access. |
| gravel ramp | Minnesota DNR | - Shallow access on east side with dirt parking lot located 3 mi W of Wheaton on Cnty Rd 76 to E shore. |
DNR fish survey, 2015
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 11.50 | 46 | 2.99 |
| Black bullhead | Standard gill nets | 11.25 | 45 | 0.34 |
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 8.75 | 35 | 0.92 |
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 7.75 | 31 | 0.31 |
| Common carp | Standard gill nets | 6.50 | 26 | 3.97 |
| White sucker | Standard gill nets | 2.00 | 8 | 0.74 |
| White bass | Standard gill nets | 1.75 | 7 | 1.55 |
| Shorthead redhorse | Standard gill nets | 1.50 | 6 | 2.39 |
| Black bullhead | Standard trap nets | 2.30 | 23 | 0.36 |
| Common carp | Standard trap nets | 0.90 | 9 | 7.23 |
| Northern pike | Standard trap nets | 0.50 | 5 | 2.52 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 0.40 | 4 | 0.03 |
| Freshwater drum | Standard trap nets | 0.30 | 3 | 2.13 |
| Walleye | Standard trap nets | 0.30 | 3 | 3.94 |
| White bass | Standard trap nets | 0.20 | 2 | 1.58 |
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 0.20 | 2 | 0.38 |
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.
Mud Lake is located in western Minnesota, approximately four miles west of Wheaton. It is a highly productive lake that measures 2,500 acres at normal summer pool level with a maximum depth of 7 feet. Mud Lake is on the Minnesota-South Dakota border and is subject to border water fishing regulations. Mud Lake has a high potential for winterkill and the fish community may reflect that at times. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks cooperatively manage the fishery. Little angling is known to occur on Mud Lake during the summer due to difficult access and numerous submerged boulders. Anglers are advised to carefully study a map of the lake before boating, and to drive slowly. Most fishing occurs from shore just upstream from Mud Lake below the Reservation Dam at the outlet of Traverse Lake, or during the winter through the ice. Northern pike have been abundant in all five fish assessments (1994, 1999, 2005, 2010, and 2015). In 2015 they were present from 5 different year classes and measured 13-32 inches. Northern pike frequently experience good reproduction in Mud Lake. The majority (58%) were from the 2013 year class and ranged from 20-25 inches. Walleye were moderately abundant in 2015 with most fish originating from the 2013 year class. They measured 11-14 inches, but fish up to 28 inches were also present. Other game fish species present in moderate numbers included Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, White Bass, and Yellow Perch.
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. Regulations, slot limits and special rules are on the DNR page linked above, not here.
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