Crow Wing

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Crow Wing Lake was conducted on September 2-3, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at ten sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample eight stations. Two stations were not sampled due to soft substrate and dense vegetation. Nearshore sampling captured seventeen species of fish, including three species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass) and none that are tolerant of disturbance. A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by LBMA program staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured twelve species of fish, including one species that is intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Rock Bass) and none that were tolerant of disturbance. Bluegill and Pumpkinseed comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Walleye, Yellow Bullhead, and Bluegill comprised a majority by biomass. The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from an August 2022 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based index of biological integrity (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish and Common Carp). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Mississippi River - Brainerd Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Crow Wing Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.

Crow Wing is a shallow, fertile lake south of Brainerd, MN. It is currently stocked with walleye fingerlings in odd numbered years. The walleye catch was average (2.7/gill net) in 2022. Average length was large 20.3" and all but one fish was over 15". Walleye were also caught while bass electrofishing in the spring at the rate of 12.3/hour and an average length of 16.2". Northern pike numbers were low for this type of lake at 3.0/gill net. Average length was 22.6", with 56% within the 22-26" protected slot and only one fish (4%) above 26". Most of these fish (81%) were from the 2021 year class and were fast growing. Largemouth bass numbers were down from the last survey in 2016 (47.1/hour). They were sampled by night electrofishing on May 17, 2022, resulting in a catch rate of 24.5/hour. Average length was decent at 14.6" and 95% were 12" or larger, with fish up to 19.0" captured. Black Crappie numbers remained high (23.0/gill net) and were dominated by young, small fish with an average length of 6.2". Trap net numbers were lower at 2.0/trap net, and average size was only slightly larger at 7.0". Only 4% of the total catch was 8" or larger, but there were some crappies up to 13.4". Bluegill numbers were low (5.0/trap net), with an average length of only 4.5". Only 4% of the fish were 7" or larger. Yellow Perch numbers jumped up a bit in 2022 to 11.8/gill net from 1.7/gill net in 2016. Size was still on the small side with an average length of 6.4". Efforts should be made to protect the emergent vegetation in the west basin and on each side of the point on the south side. Emergent plants, like bulrush, cattail and wild rice, are important for shoreline protection, regulating nutrient levels, and they provide essential spawning habitat for northern pike, bass and panfish.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Crow Wing Lake was conducted on June 29, 2022, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 10 sampling stations, but two stations were sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample seven stations, a 15-foot seine was used to sample two stations, and site conditions prevented the use of a seine at one station. Nearshore sampling captured 15 species of fish including two species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, and Iowa Darter) and not species tolerant of disturbance. The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from an August 2022 survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead, Fathead Minnow, and Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Data from this survey indicates that the fish community in Crow Wing Lake is adversely impacted by stressors as indicated by an FIBI score at the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to previous survey findings, which indicated that Crow Wing Lake is impaired for aquatic life use. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Mississippi River - Brainerd Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Rock Bass, and Northern Pike in Crow Wing. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Crow Wing. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Crow Wing has a maximum depth of 26 feet and a mean depth of 11 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Crow Wing is from 2025.

No invasive species are on record for Crow Wing in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.