Castle Rock Lake

Castle Rock Lake

Size
13,012ac
Boat Launch
Yes
Carry-in Launch
Yes
Toilet
No
Boat Dock
No
Species in Castle Rock Lake
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Muskellunge
Muskellunge
Walleye
Walleye
Perch
Perch
Bluegill
Bluegill
Crappie
Crappie
Northern pike
Northern pike
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Channel catfish
Channel catfish
Flathead catfish
Flathead catfish
Pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
Rock bass
Rock bass
Sturgeon
Sturgeon
Tiger muskellunge
Tiger muskellunge
White bass
White bass

Overview

Castle Rock Lake Map

Fishing Regulations

Special Fishing regulations: This lake has special fishing regulations that differ from statewide or border water regulations for those species identified below and take precedence. Regulations listed below are currently in place. Visit the fishing regulations page for links to upcoming regulations for specific lakes.

Special Waterbody Regulations

  • Hook and line fishing is open all year for fish species except muskellunge, lake sturgeon, trout, paddlefish and threatened or endangered species. Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.

Special Species Regulations

  • Bluegill: See Panfish.
  • Lake sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.
  • Muskellunge and hybrids: May 3, 2025 to December 31, 2025: The minimum length limit is 50” and the daily bag limit is 1
  • Northern pike: Open all year: The minimum length limit is 32” and the daily bag limit is 1
  • Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass: Open all year: The minimum length limit is 14” and the daily bag limit is 5
  • Largemouth bass: See Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.
  • Smallmouth bass: See Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.
  • Paddlefish: Closed. No fishing allowed.
  • Rock, Yellow, and White Bass: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
  • Rough fish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
  • Round goby: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
  • Ruffe: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
  • Shovelnose sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.
  • Trout and salmon: See Trout regulations layer.
  • White perch: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
  • Bowfin: See Rough Fish.
  • Channel catfish: See Catfish.
  • Crappies: See Panfish.
  • Flathead catfish: See Catfish.
  • Hybrid, Striped, Yellow, and White Bass: See Rock, Yellow and White Bass.
  • Longnose gar: See Rough Fish.
  • Sauger and hybrids: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
  • Shortnose gar: See Rough Fish.
  • Urban waters gamefish: This waterbody is not considered an urban water, Urban Waters Gamefish regulations do not apply.
  • Walleye: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
  • Catfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
  • Bullheads: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
  • Walleye, Saugers, and Hybrids: Open all year: The minimum length is 15”, but walleye, sauger, and hybrids from 20” to 28” may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 28” is allowed. The daily bag limit is 3
  • Panfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25
  • Cisco and whitefish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
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Fish Species

Bluegill
fish
7-19 in
Length Range
11 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2021
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
9.6411
0Statewide Range849.0614

Castle Rock Lake Bluegill abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2013
May
2021
May
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized bluegill based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
20219
Channel catfish
fish
8-19 in
Length Range
12 in
Length Range
2013
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2013
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2007
Apr
2013
May
Crappie
fish
7-19 in
Length Range
11 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2021
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
1.6069
0Statewide Range84.8403

Castle Rock Lake Crappie abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2013
May
2021
May
Flathead catfish
fish
8-19 in
Length Range
12 in
Length Range
2013
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2013
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2013
May
Largemouth bass
fish
8-19 in
Length Range
12 in
Length Range
2013
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2013
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2006
Oct
2007
Apr
2013
May
Muskellunge
fish
29-49 in
Length Range
37 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Outlier
2021
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
8.9552
0Statewide Range6.56125

Castle Rock Lake Muskellunge abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2013
May
2021
Apr
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized muskellunge based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202148
Northern pike
fish
29-49 in
Length Range
37 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2021
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
0.2985
0Statewide Range16.72075

Castle Rock Lake Northern pike abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2013
May
2021
Apr
Perch
fish
7-19 in
Length Range
11 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2021
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2021
Apr
2021
May
Pumpkinseed
fish
8-19 in
Length Range
12 in
Length Range
2013
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2013
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2006
Aug
2007
Apr
2013
May
Rock bass
fish
8-19 in
Length Range
12 in
Length Range
2013
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2013
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2007
Apr
2013
May
Smallmouth bass
fish
7-19 in
Length Range
11 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2021
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
32.6727
0Statewide Range80.5292

Castle Rock Lake Smallmouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2013
May
2021
May
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized smallmouth-bass based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202118
Sturgeon
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No abundance data
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
No Survey Data
Tiger muskellunge
fish
20-21 in
Length Range
21 in
Length Range
2006
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2006
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2006
Oct
Walleye
fish
29-49 in
Length Range
37 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Outlier
2021
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
168.9598
0Statewide Range75.60845

Castle Rock Lake Walleye abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2013
May
2021
Apr
White bass
fish
8-19 in
Length Range
12 in
Length Range
2013
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2013
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2006
Oct
2007
Apr
2013
May