Pierz Lake (Morrison County)

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

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 49002400

DNR records show 8 stocking entries at Pierz Lake (Morrison County) since 2017, most recently walleye adults in 2025 (55 fish).

• Pierz Lake (Morrison County) has 8 DNR stocking records across 5 years (2017-2025): walleye (8).
• The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 20,264 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 34 ft, mean depth 20 ft; surface area 189 acres, 65 littoral acres, 3.2 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 11.1 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: bigmouth buffalo, black crappie, bluegill, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, and 4 more.
• 1 public access on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: June 8, 2022 (targeted survey).
• Morrison County, nearest town Genola; DNR lake number (DOW) 49002400.

Depth map

Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 7/7/1961 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.

Stocking history

⁴ fish cooperatively purchased, raised, and/or stocked by Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2022

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.

A targeted survey was completed June 8-14 to assess size structure of Bluegill and Black Crappie. Previous spring trap netting occurred in 2005, 2011 and 2014. In 2020, sampling was canceled due to Covid 19 restrictions. General observations suggest Bluegill and crappie size structure may be increasing as proportions of larger fish sampled have trended upward since 2005. A total of 265 Bluegills were caught, average size was 6.5 inches and maximum length was 8.9 inches. Thirty percent of the catch exceeded 7 inches and seven percent exceeded 8 inches. There were no Bluegill over 9 inches caught. Percentages of fish over 7 and 8 inches in 2014 were similar, however, since 2005 spring trap net samples have trended toward higher percentages of larger fish. A total of 63 crappies were caught, average length was 9.8 inches and maximum length was 11.9 inches. Sixty-two percent of the sample exceeded 10 inches. This compares to 2014 data in which 22 percent of the sample exceeded 10 inches. Spring trap netting has never sampled any crappies measuring 12 inches or greater. Similar to Bluegills, crappie size structure 2005-2022 is trending upward. Growth analysis of Bluegills and crappies find that both species grow better in Pierz-Fish Lake compared to recent averages documented from other lakes in the Little Falls Management Area. The presence of larger panfish, particularly Black Crappie coupled with impressive growth characteristics suggest Pierz-Fish Lake has the potential to produce high-quality angling opportunities. Future management planning will consider these data in developing strategies to maintain and/or improve populations toward higher numbers of larger fish. Other species captured during this survey included Pumpkinseed (5.5-inch average size) and several large, Bigmouth Buffalo which are plankton feeders and native to Minnesota.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, June 8, 2022.

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