Gifford

Scott County

Near Carver

DOW: 70011800

Black CrappieExcellent · 97White CrappieGood · 74BluegillAverage · 40

A 119-acre lake near Carver in Scott County — best known for panfish. Last surveyed 1981.

Fish Species (11)

Black Crappie

Excellent · 97

Above-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1981

Last surveyed 1981 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.14 lbs

Catch rate: 6.5 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 1, 1981	6.50	-	0.14 lbs	Standard trap nets

White Crappie

Good · 74

Typical numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1981

Last surveyed 1981 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.83 lbs

Catch rate: 0.75 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 1, 1981	0.75	-	0.83 lbs	Standard trap nets

Bluegill

Average · 40

Typical numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1981

Last surveyed 1981 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.14 lbs

Catch rate: 8.5 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 1, 1981	8.50	-	0.14 lbs	Standard trap nets

Hybrid Sunfish

Average · 25

Below-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1981

Last surveyed 1981 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.10 lbs

Catch rate: 0.25 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 1, 1981	0.25	-	0.10 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Perch

Insufficient

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1981

Last surveyed 1981 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.20 lbs

Catch rate: 0.25 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 1, 1981	0.25	-	0.20 lbs	Standard trap nets

Northern Pike

Insufficient

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1981

Last surveyed 1981 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

2.28 lbs

Catch rate: 2.3 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 1, 1981	2.25	-	2.28 lbs	Standard trap nets

Other species in this lake (5)

Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.

Black Bullhead

Excellent · 100

Above-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1981

Last surveyed 1981 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.14 lbs

Catch rate: 261.8 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 1, 1981	261.75	-	0.14 lbs	Standard trap nets

Brown Bullhead

Excellent · 100

Above-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1981

Last surveyed 1981 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.32 lbs

Catch rate: 7.0 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 1, 1981	7.00	-	0.32 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Bullhead

Average · 39

Below-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1981

Last surveyed 1981 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.77 lbs

Catch rate: 0.75 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 1, 1981	0.75	-	0.77 lbs	Standard trap nets

Freshwater Drum

Insufficient

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1981

Last surveyed 1981 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.50 lbs

Catch rate: 0.25 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 1, 1981	0.25	-	1.50 lbs	Standard trap nets

Common Carp

Insufficient

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1981

Last surveyed 1981 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

2.68 lbs

Catch rate: 3.5 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 1, 1981	3.50	-	2.68 lbs	Standard trap nets

See the best black crappie lakes in Minnesota

Fishing Regulations

Statewide limits

Standard statewide Minnesota limits for the species in this lake.

Northern Pike

Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

Southern zone

Angling: 2 (Minimum size 24").

Crappie

10 combined total

Sunfish

20 combined total

Perch

20 daily and 40 in possession

More statewide rules (spearing, rough fish)

Northern Pike

Season: Nov 15, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

Southern zone

Darkhouse spearing: 2 (Minimum size 24").

Bowfin, buffalo, carp, carpsuckers, freshwater drum, goldeneye, redhorse, and suckers

no limit

Bullhead

100

This lake is near a regulation-zone boundary — verify the zone on the DNR map.

Biologist Notes

July 1, 1981Gifford Lake is a bckwtr lk of the Minn. Rvr Val. It is subject to periodic flooding from the river and due to its shallow nature to regular wntrkls.…

Gifford Lake is a bckwtr lk of the Minn. Rvr Val. It is subject to periodic flooding from the river and due to its shallow nature to regular wntrkls. The past two wntrs have been extremely mild with wntrkls a rarity. This appears to be the case w. Gifford Lake. Carp, YP, YB, BG, BLC and WC ctchs each fall between the first and third quartile of the range for Metro Reg. trapnet catches.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Gifford?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Black Crappie, White Crappie, Bluegill, and Hybrid Sunfish in Gifford. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Gifford?

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Gifford. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

How deep is Gifford?

Gifford has a maximum depth of 10.5 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Gifford last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Gifford is from 1981. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Does Gifford have any invasive species?

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

Are there special fishing regulations on Gifford?

No — Gifford has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide crappie limit is: 10 combined total. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.