Grass
A 72-acre lake near Pelican Rapids in Otter Tail County — best known for panfish and pike. Last surveyed 1989.
Fish Species (11)
Above-normal numbers
Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1989
Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 3.8 per trap net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 1989 | 3.80 | - | 0.09 lbs |
| May 11, 1981 | 1.80 | - | 0.23 lbs |
Bluegill
Stocked 2023Above-normal numbers · average-size fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1989
Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 127.2 per trap net · typical 4.9–49.8 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 1989 | 2.00 | - | 0.10 lbs |
| Aug 15, 1989 | 127.20 | - | 0.10 lbs |
| May 11, 1981 | 50.40 | - | 0.40 lbs |
Stocking Details
| Year | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | adults | 100 | 20.0 |
Typical numbers · average-size fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1989
Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 9.0 per gill net · typical 4.5–11.3 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 1989 | 9.00 | - | 1.56 lbs |
| Aug 15, 1989 | 2.00 | - | 1.61 lbs |
Walleye
Stocked 2019Typical numbers · average-size fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1989
Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 2.0 per gill net · typical 0.5–3.8 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 1989 | 2.00 | - | 1.60 lbs |
| Aug 15, 1989 | 0.60 | - | 1.57 lbs |
| May 11, 1981 | 11.20 | - | 0.33 lbs |
Stocking Details
| Year | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | fry | 77,000 | 0.7 |
Typical numbers · average-size fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1989
Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 6.4 per trap net · typical 1.7–10.3 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 1989 | 2.00 | - | 0.10 lbs |
| Aug 15, 1989 | 6.40 | - | 0.10 lbs |
Typical numbers · average-size fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1989
Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.4 per trap net · typical 0.2–2.1 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 1989 | 0.40 | - | 0.10 lbs |
Black Crappie
Stocked 2023Typical numbers · average-size fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1989
Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 1.0 per gill net · typical 1–11.8 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 1989 | 1.00 | - | 0.10 lbs |
| Aug 15, 1989 | 0.40 | - | 0.10 lbs |
| May 11, 1981 | 14.80 | - | 0.10 lbs |
Stocking Details
| Year | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | adults | 100 | 10.0 |
Other species in this lake (4)
Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.
Above-normal numbers · small fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1989
Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 83.0 per trap net · typical 1.1–25.2 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 1989 | 83.00 | - | 0.07 lbs |
| Aug 15, 1989 | 170.00 | - | 0.08 lbs |
| May 11, 1981 | 96.60 | - | 0.10 lbs |
Average-size fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1989
Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.2 per trap net · typical 0.3–1.5 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 1989 | 0.20 | - | 1.90 lbs |
| May 11, 1981 | 0.20 | - | 2.00 lbs |
Typical numbers · small fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1989
Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 3.6 per trap net · typical 1.1–9.6 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 1989 | 3.60 | - | 0.17 lbs |
| Aug 15, 1989 | 22.00 | - | 0.08 lbs |
Small fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1989
Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 6.0 per gill net · typical 2.1–15.3 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 1989 | 6.00 | - | 0.15 lbs |
Fishing Regulations
Statewide limits
Standard statewide Minnesota limits for the species in this lake.
Walleye and Sauger
Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027
6 combined, not more than one walleye over 20"
Northern Pike
Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027
North-central zone
Angling: 10 (not more than 2 over 26". All from 22-26" must be immediatley released).
Crappie
10 combined total
Sunfish
20 combined total
More statewide rules (spearing, rough fish)
Northern Pike
Season: Nov 15, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027
North-central zone
Darkhouse spearing: 10 (only 1 between 22-26" and 1 over 26"; or, only 2 over 26").
Bowfin, buffalo, carp, carpsuckers, freshwater drum, goldeneye, redhorse, and suckers
no limit
Bullhead
100
Biologist Notes
August 15, 1989Grass Lake is subject to periodic winterkill. The last winterkill occurred in the winter of 1980-81. State park personnel have been plowing an area of…
Grass Lake is subject to periodic winterkill. The last winterkill occurred in the winter of 1980-81. State park personnel have been plowing an area of the lake during the winter in an attempt to prevent or limit the severity of winterkill. There is an extremely abundant bullhead population. Black bullheads were the most abundant at 170 per gill net, followed by yellow bullheads and brown bullheads. Only one gill net was set due to the anticipated high number of bullheads. Northern pike abundance appears to be increasing as nineteen were captured with an average weight of 1.6 lbs. Two age-classes of northern pike composed the sample. Bluegill abundance was 127.2 per trap net lift, which is five times the area median. Only 8% of the bluegills measured were greater than 7.0 inches in length. Bluegill growth rates appear to be good despite their high abundance. Three black crappies were sampled, all age-I+. Five walleyes were captured and appeared to be the result of the 1986 fry and fingerling stocking. Walleyes ranged in length from 15.2 to 19.4 inches.
May 11, 1981The trap net catch rate of Bluegills was three times the area median. The catch rate of walleyes was also very high. Walleyes are the result of a 1980…
The trap net catch rate of Bluegills was three times the area median. The catch rate of walleyes was also very high. Walleyes are the result of a 1980 Walleye fry stocking. Grass Lake is susceptible to periodic winterkill.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fish can you catch in Grass?
Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Hybrid Sunfish, Bluegill, Northern Pike, Walleye, and Pumpkinseed in Grass. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.
Is there public access at Grass?
We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Grass. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.
How deep is Grass?
Grass has a maximum depth of 21 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.
When were the main sport fish in Grass last surveyed?
The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Grass is from 1989. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.
Does Grass have any invasive species?
No invasive species are on record for Grass in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.
Are there special fishing regulations on Grass?
No — Grass has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide sunfish limit is: 20 combined total. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.
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Lake Details
- Surface Area
- 72.42 acres
- Max Depth
- 21 ft
- Shoreline
- 2.47 mi
- Public Access
- Not confirmed