Ray Lake
Cass County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 11022000
Ray Lake has no DNR stocking rows in LakeFinder; this page carries its DNR depth, access and survey data.
- Ray Lake shows no stocking records in Minnesota DNR LakeFinder as of .
- Maximum depth 27 ft; surface area 143 acres, 112 littoral acres, 2.6 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 10.3 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, and 5 more.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- Cass County, nearest town Nisswa; DNR lake number (DOW) 11022000.
Depth map
Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey; depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| concrete ramp | Minnesota DNR | Access is gained through channel from Upper Gull Lake. |
DNR fish survey, 2025
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 23.50 | 141 | 0.16 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard trap nets | 11.67 | 70 | 0.17 |
| Hybrid sunfish | Standard trap nets | 6.83 | 41 | 0.28 |
| Yellow bullhead | Standard trap nets | 2.83 | 17 | 0.85 |
| Bowfin (dogfish) | Standard trap nets | 2.00 | 12 | 3.76 |
| Rock bass | Standard trap nets | 0.83 | 5 | 0.55 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard trap nets | 0.83 | 5 | 1.88 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 0.67 | 4 | 0.43 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 10.00 | 30 | 1.94 |
| Bluegill | Standard gill nets | 2.33 | 7 | 0.12 |
| Black crappie | Standard gill nets | 1.67 | 5 | 0.40 |
| White sucker | Standard gill nets | 1.00 | 3 | 2.96 |
| Yellow bullhead | Standard gill nets | 0.67 | 2 | 1.19 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard gill nets | 0.33 | 1 | 3.13 |
| Black bullhead | Standard gill nets | 0.33 | 1 | 0.39 |
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 0.33 | 1 | 0.30 |
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.
Ray is a small 136 acre lake that is part of the Gull Chain of Lakes and can be accessed through channels from Upper Gull Lake and Spider Lake. Ray receives plenty of recreational traffic as boats navigate between Gull and Nisswa Lakes. A special regulation enacted in 2024 requires the immediate release of all Northern Pike between 30 and 40 inches, with a possession limit of two fish and only one allowed over 40 inches on the Gull Chain of Lakes. A standard survey using gill nets and trap nets was conducted in June 2025 to assess fish populations and provide angler information. Anglers looking to get a meal of panfish should be able to accomplish that on Ray, while those looking for trophy panfish should look elsewhere. The Bluegill trap net catch was a little below average for the lake. Fish ranged in length from 3.2 to 8.0 inches with an average of 6.4 inches. Bluegill at least 7 inches in length made up 30% of the sample. Growth was slow compared to similar lakes with Bluegills reaching 6 inches at age 6. Black Crappies were sampled in below average numbers in trap nets and in above average numbers in gill nets. Fish ranged in length from 6.4 to 11.0 inches with 56% at least 8 inches in length. The Northern Pike gill net catch was above average for the lake. Fish ranged in length from 13.4 to 29.3 inches with an average of 20.3 inches. Anglers wishing to harvest will find plenty of opportunity on Ray since no Northern Pike were sampled in the protected slot. Electrofishing, the preferred method for sampling Largemouth Bass, was not completed in 2025. Anglers can expect a chance at some decent fish based on what was caught in the summer netting. Fish ranging from 6.3 to 18.7 inches were sampled, with 83% measuring at least 12 inches. Other species sampled in the latest survey included Black Bullhead, Bowfin (Dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead and Yellow Perch.
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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