Sylvan Lake (Cass County, DOW 11030400)
Cass County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 11030400
DNR records show 3 stocking entries at Sylvan Lake (Cass County, DOW 11030400) since 2016, most recently walleye yearlings in 2025 (4,950 fish).
- Sylvan Lake (Cass County, DOW 11030400) has 3 DNR stocking records across 3 years (2016-2025): walleye (3).
- The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 9,301 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 57 ft; surface area 894 acres, 367 littoral acres, 11.1 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 19.0 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, burbot, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, and 5 more.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (targeted survey).
- Cass County, nearest town Pillager; DNR lake number (DOW) 11030400.
Depth map
Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 6/27/1956 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye1 | yearlings | 4,950 | 330.0 |
| 2021 | Walleye1 | fingerlings | 2,745 | 366.0 |
| 2016 | Walleye1 | fingerlings | 1,606 | 223.0 |
1 fish purchased and stocked by private citizens and sporting groups.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| concrete ramp | Minnesota DNR | East end of lake in small bay. |
DNR fish survey, 2023
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | Special trap nets | 17.75 | 284 | 0.18 |
| Black crappie | Special trap nets | 4.12 | 66 | 0.48 |
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 trap net assessment was conducted on Sylvan Lake on May 15-17, 2023, to monitor the Black Crappie and Bluegill populations. Sylvan Lake has a special regulation limiting the daily possession to five Sunfish and five Crappies. The reduced daily limit began in 2005. Black Crappies ranged in length from 4.9 to 13.3 inches. Average length was 9.2 inches and 62% of the Crappies measured 9 inches or longer. Bluegills ranged in length from 4.0 to 9.3 inches. Average length was 7.4 inches and 76% of the Bluegills measured 7 inches or longer. The five Crappie and five Sunfish daily limits have been successful in maintaining the quality panfish angling opportunities in Sylvan Lake.
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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