Wye Lake
Lake County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 38004200
DNR records show 7 stocking entries at Wye Lake since 2016, most recently walleye fingerlings in 2024 (1,760 fish).
- Wye Lake has 7 DNR stocking records across 6 years (2016-2024): walleye (5), bluegill sunfish (2).
- The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 18,300 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 13 ft; surface area 52 acres, 52 littoral acres, 1.8 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 5.5 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black crappie, bluegill, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- Lake County, nearest town Isabella; DNR lake number (DOW) 38004200.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye2 | fingerlings | 1,760 | 110.0 |
| 2022 | Walleye2 | fingerlings | 3,640 | 107.1 |
| 2021 | Walleye2 | fingerlings | 3,685 | 110.0 |
| 2018 | Walleye | fingerlings | 4,375 | 109.4 |
| 2017 | Bluegill Sunfish | adults | 1,155 | 77.0 |
| 2016 | Bluegill Sunfish | adults | 720 | 40.0 |
| 2016 | Walleye | fingerlings | 4,840 | 121.0 |
2 fish purchased by the DNR for stocking.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| CA | Minnesota DNR | A 400 ft. access trail maintained by the USFS, off of USFS Road # 369. Parking for three vehicles. |
DNR fish survey, 2024
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 4.00 | 12 | 0.08 |
| White sucker | Standard gill nets | 3.33 | 10 | 1.90 |
| Black crappie | Standard gill nets | 3.00 | 9 | 0.40 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 2.67 | 8 | 1.94 |
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 2.33 | 7 | 2.49 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 3.89 | 35 | 0.29 |
| Yellow perch | Standard trap nets | 1.89 | 17 | 0.06 |
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 0.78 | 7 | 0.04 |
| White sucker | Standard trap nets | 0.78 | 7 | 2.54 |
| Northern pike | Standard trap nets | 0.67 | 6 | 1.95 |
| Walleye | Standard trap nets | 0.44 | 4 | 1.94 |
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.
Wye Lake is a small bog fringed lake located about fifteen miles northeast of Isabella within the Superior National Forest. There is a carry-in public access with about a 100-yard trail over uneven ground from the vehicle parking area off Forest Service 369 (Trappers Lake / Sawbill Landing Road) just west of the intersection with Lake County 7. The lake has been stocked with Walleye fingerlings regularly since the 1970's to maintain a population, since little to no natural reproduction has been documented. Adult Bluegill were also stocked into the lake in 2016 and 2017 and have subsequently established a naturalized population. In addition, although not part of DNR approved stocking, Black Crappie have also established a naturalized population in the lake in the last decade and provide additional opportunities for anglers. Walleye are the primary management species and the 2024 catch rates of 2.33 per gill net and 0.44 per trap net were both below the normal range for similar lakes, but within the historic range of catches for Wye Lake. Age analysis determined all but two of the fish caught were from stocked years, which confirms a lack of consistent natural reproduction. While not abundant, the size of Walleye captured was favorable with the average fish measuring 18.4 inches long and weighing 2.3 pounds. Bluegill were poorly sampled during the July 2024 standard fisheries survey, as only seven small fish were captured. A larger sample of the population was obtained from targeted spring trap netting efforts in June 2024 that provides more information about the status of the population and angling opportunities (see targeted survey dated 6/11/2024). The 2024 standard survey net catches confirm that Black Crappie have established a naturalized population in the lake. Fish from trap nets had a broad size structure with lengths ranging from 3.5 to 13.0 inches long and an average size of 6.95 inches long and 0.29 pounds. Age analysis determined each year class from 2019 to 2023 was present indicating successful natural reproduction within the lake annually since they were first documented. The Northern Pike sample was similar to previous surveys of the lake with modest size structure and abundance. They provide opportunities for anglers to catch and harvest fish with the possibility to encounter an occasional larger pike. Results of surveys completed in 2024 indicate Wye Lake supports a fish community with viable fisheries for Black Crappie, Bluegill, Northern Pike, and Walleye. Few lakes in the area have such diverse opportunities, which is likely why the…
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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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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