Sauer Lake
Becker County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 03035500
DNR records show 12 stocking entries at Sauer Lake since 2016, most recently walleye yearlings in 2025 (20 fish).
- Sauer Lake has 12 DNR stocking records across 9 years (2016-2025): walleye (12).
- The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 16,299 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 39 ft; surface area 193 acres, 84 littoral acres, 2.8 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, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow bullhead, yellow perch.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- Becker County, nearest town Detroit Lakes; DNR lake number (DOW) 03035500.
Depth map
Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 8/4/1960 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | yearlings | 20 | 14.0 |
| 2025 | Walleye | fingerlings | 502 | 78.0 |
| 2025 | Walleye | adults | 440 | 40.0 |
| 2024 | Walleye | yearlings | 1,344 | 84.0 |
| 2023 | Walleye | fingerlings | 1,865 | 89.0 |
| 2022 | Walleye | fingerlings | 3,696 | 84.0 |
| 2021 | Walleye | adults | 981 | 109.0 |
| 2020 | Walleye | yearlings | 1,272 | 84.0 |
| 2019 | Walleye | fingerlings | 2,264 | 84.0 |
| 2018 | Walleye | fingerlings | 1,700 | 85.0 |
| 2016 | Walleye | yearlings | 17 | 12.0 |
| 2016 | Walleye | fingerlings | 2,198 | 156.0 |
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| asphalt ramp | DOT | MN DOT wayside rest with boat access and swimming/picnic area |
DNR fish survey, 2022
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 37.22 | 335 | 0.35 |
| Hybrid sunfish | Standard trap nets | 4.56 | 41 | 0.37 |
| Yellow bullhead | Standard trap nets | 2.56 | 23 | 0.72 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 2.11 | 19 | 0.44 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard trap nets | 1.78 | 16 | 0.27 |
| Brown bullhead | Standard trap nets | 1.11 | 10 | 0.89 |
| Walleye | Standard trap nets | 0.67 | 6 | 5.27 |
| Black bullhead | Standard trap nets | 0.44 | 4 | 1.27 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 16.50 | 99 | 1.90 |
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 16.33 | 98 | 0.08 |
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 7.00 | 42 | 1.85 |
| Bluegill | Standard gill nets | 3.50 | 21 | 0.28 |
| Yellow bullhead | Standard gill nets | 2.50 | 15 | 0.60 |
| Brown bullhead | Standard gill nets | 1.83 | 11 | 0.55 |
| Black bullhead | Standard gill nets | 1.33 | 8 | 0.47 |
| Black crappie | Standard gill nets | 1.17 | 7 | 0.45 |
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.
Sauer Lake is a 212-acre, class-31 lake with 39 foot maximum depth located in southern Becker County. Shoreline development is relatively light when compared to other area lakes. A public access with a small wayside rest has been present since 1960. This access, just off state highway 59, is a popular swimming and picnic area as well as a boat launch. Northern Pike abundance in Sauer Lake has increased steadily since 2001. Sampling in 2022 was no exception with gill nets catching almost 17 pike per net. Pike average length was 20.6 inches and the largest pike measured 35.4 inches. Walleye abundance in 2022 was similar to past surveys. Walleye averaged almost 17 inches long with a majority of the fish being three years old. Bluegill abundance was lower than normal in 2022, but average size was high at almost seven-and-a-half inches long. It takes at least eight years for a Bluegill to get to eight inches long in Sauer Lake. Black Crappie abundance was similar to the lake's average, with fish averaging 9.2 inches long. Largemouth Bass were sampled in low numbers with the largest fish measuring 15.3 inches long. Other fish species captured during the survey included Yellow Perch, Black Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Bowfin, and Pumpkinseed.
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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