Sleepy Eye

Brown County, Minnesota — DOW #08004500

129 Surveys

240.82

Acres

21 ft

Max Depth

7 ft

Mean Depth

Fish Species

Local Guides

DNR Fish Surveys

Catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) data from Minnesota DNR fish population assessments on Sleepy Eye. Green = above normal range. Red = below normal.

Northern Pike

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1994-08-25	Standard gill nets	8.0 (normal)	2.0 – 10.8	1.71 lb	8
1994-08-25	Standard trap nets	0.1	—	—	1
1995-08-10	Standard gill nets	17.0 (above normal)	2.0 – 10.8	1.68 lb	17
1995-08-10	Standard trap nets	0.4	—	0.09 lb	2
2000-08-21	Standard gill nets	9.0 (normal)	2.0 – 10.8	1.63 lb	18
2000-08-21	Standard trap nets	1.6	—	1.24 lb	13
2011-06-20	Standard gill nets	2.5 (normal)	2.0 – 10.8	3.07 lb	15
2011-06-20	Standard trap nets	0.1	—	7.45 lb	1
1996-08-28	Standard gill nets	4.0 (normal)	2.0 – 10.8	2.70 lb	8
1996-08-28	Standard trap nets	0.7	—	1.02 lb	4
1998-08-10	Standard gill nets	16.5 (above normal)	2.0 – 10.8	2.39 lb	33
1998-08-10	Standard trap nets	0.9	—	0.97 lb	6
2003-08-19	Standard gill nets	9.5 (normal)	2.0 – 10.8	1.77 lb	19
2003-08-19	Standard trap nets	3.3	—	1.80 lb	23
1986-07-16	Standard gill nets	1.0 (below normal)	2.0 – 10.8	0.67 lb	3
1986-07-16	Standard trap nets	1.5	—	0.25 lb	3
1997-07-21	Standard gill nets	8.7 (normal)	2.0 – 10.8	1.79 lb	26
1997-07-21	Standard trap nets	2.3	—	2.06 lb	18
2002-08-26	Standard gill nets	26.5 (above normal)	2.0 – 10.8	1.41 lb	53
2002-08-26	Standard trap nets	0.6	—	1.47 lb	5

White Sucker

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1994-08-25	Standard gill nets	1.0 (normal)	0.5 – 2.3	0.26 lb	1
2011-06-20	Standard gill nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.5 – 2.3	2.76 lb	1
2011-06-20	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.2 – 1.2	3.09 lb	1
1986-07-16	Standard gill nets	1.3 (normal)	0.5 – 2.3	0.91 lb	4
1986-07-16	Standard trap nets	0.5 (normal)	0.2 – 1.2	1.87 lb	1

Bluegill

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1994-08-25	Standard trap nets	14.9 (normal)	3.5 – 57.1	0.03 lb	104
1994-08-25	Survey seining	7.0	—	0.08 lb	7
1995-08-10	Standard trap nets	20.2 (normal)	3.5 – 57.1	0.12 lb	101
1995-08-10	Standard gill nets	1.0	—	0.20 lb	1
2000-08-21	Standard trap nets	29.9 (normal)	3.5 – 57.1	0.19 lb	239
2000-08-21	Standard gill nets	12.5	—	0.26 lb	25
2011-06-20	Backpack electrofishing	7.6	—	—	6
2011-06-20	15-ft beach seine	45.5	—	—	182
2011-06-20	Standard gill nets	15.7	—	0.12 lb	94
2011-06-20	50-ft beach seine	274.7	—	—	824
2011-06-20	Standard trap nets	53.0 (normal)	3.5 – 57.1	0.06 lb	477
1996-08-28	Standard trap nets	15.2 (normal)	3.5 – 57.1	0.20 lb	91
1996-08-28	Standard gill nets	2.0	—	0.14 lb	4
1998-08-10	Standard trap nets	26.9 (normal)	3.5 – 57.1	0.12 lb	188
1998-08-10	Standard gill nets	20.0	—	0.19 lb	40
2003-08-19	Standard trap nets	28.1 (normal)	3.5 – 57.1	0.10 lb	197
2003-08-19	Standard gill nets	25.5	—	0.04 lb	51
1986-07-16	Standard trap nets	12.5 (normal)	3.5 – 57.1	0.37 lb	25
1997-07-21	Standard trap nets	42.5 (normal)	3.5 – 57.1	0.04 lb	340
1997-07-21	Standard gill nets	9.7	—	0.19 lb	29
2002-08-26	Standard trap nets	18.4 (normal)	3.5 – 57.1	0.17 lb	147
2002-08-26	Standard gill nets	7.0	—	0.14 lb	14

Largemouth Bass

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1994-08-25	Standard trap nets	1.9 (above normal)	0.2 – 0.8	0.07 lb	13
1994-08-25	Survey seining	6.0	—	0.13 lb	6
1995-08-10	Standard trap nets	8.8 (above normal)	0.2 – 0.8	0.05 lb	44
1995-08-10	Standard gill nets	19.0 (above normal)	0.3 – 0.6	0.07 lb	19
2000-08-21	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.2 – 0.8	2.04 lb	1
2000-08-21	Standard gill nets	1.5 (above normal)	0.3 – 0.6	1.24 lb	3
2011-06-20	Backpack electrofishing	13.9	—	—	11
2011-06-20	Standard electrofishing	56.0	—	1.60 lb	49
2011-06-20	15-ft beach seine	5.3	—	—	21
2011-06-20	Standard gill nets	0.8 (above normal)	0.3 – 0.6	1.51 lb	5
2011-06-20	50-ft beach seine	26.7	—	—	80
1996-08-28	Standard trap nets	2.5 (above normal)	0.2 – 0.8	0.04 lb	15
1998-08-10	Standard gill nets	1.0 (above normal)	0.3 – 0.6	0.49 lb	2
2003-08-19	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.2 – 0.8	2.43 lb	1
1986-07-16	Standard trap nets	1.0 (above normal)	0.2 – 0.8	3.00 lb	2
1997-07-21	Standard gill nets	1.0 (above normal)	0.3 – 0.6	0.67 lb	3
2002-08-26	Standard gill nets	0.5 (normal)	0.3 – 0.6	0.51 lb	1

Channel Catfish

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1994-08-25	Standard trap nets	0.1	—	0.71 lb	1
2011-06-20	Standard gill nets	0.3	—	3.74 lb	2

Yellow Perch

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1994-08-25	Standard gill nets	7.0 (normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.15 lb	7
1995-08-10	Standard trap nets	1.2 (normal)	0.4 – 2.8	0.12 lb	6
1995-08-10	Standard gill nets	12.0 (normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.43 lb	12
2000-08-21	Standard trap nets	1.4 (normal)	0.4 – 2.8	0.33 lb	11
2000-08-21	Standard gill nets	20.5 (normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.17 lb	41
2011-06-20	Standard trap nets	0.4 (normal)	0.4 – 2.8	0.20 lb	4
2011-06-20	Backpack electrofishing	1.3	—	—	1
2011-06-20	Standard gill nets	7.3 (normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.10 lb	44
2011-06-20	50-ft beach seine	10.7	—	—	32
1996-08-28	Standard trap nets	1.2 (normal)	0.4 – 2.8	0.16 lb	7
1996-08-28	Standard gill nets	93.0 (above normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.07 lb	186
1998-08-10	Standard trap nets	1.6 (normal)	0.4 – 2.8	0.17 lb	11
1998-08-10	Standard gill nets	139.5 (above normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.10 lb	279
2003-08-19	Standard trap nets	2.0 (normal)	0.4 – 2.8	0.15 lb	14
2003-08-19	Standard gill nets	19.5 (normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.09 lb	39
1986-07-16	Standard gill nets	34.7 (above normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.21 lb	104
1997-07-21	Standard trap nets	1.4 (normal)	0.4 – 2.8	0.06 lb	11
1997-07-21	Standard gill nets	85.3 (above normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.17 lb	256
2002-08-26	Standard trap nets	3.0 (above normal)	0.4 – 2.8	0.07 lb	24
2002-08-26	Standard gill nets	106.5 (above normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.08 lb	213

Black Crappie

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1995-08-10	Standard trap nets	2.0 (below normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.19 lb	10
2000-08-21	Standard gill nets	9.5 (normal)	1.7 – 17.5	0.30 lb	19
2000-08-21	Standard trap nets	2.5 (normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.30 lb	20
2011-06-20	Standard gill nets	34.0 (above normal)	1.7 – 17.5	0.08 lb	204
2011-06-20	50-ft beach seine	0.3	—	—	1
2011-06-20	Standard trap nets	9.8 (normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.10 lb	88
1996-08-28	Standard trap nets	0.8 (below normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.12 lb	5
1998-08-10	Standard gill nets	4.5 (normal)	1.7 – 17.5	0.18 lb	9
1998-08-10	Standard trap nets	9.7 (normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.22 lb	68
2003-08-19	Standard gill nets	13.0 (normal)	1.7 – 17.5	0.08 lb	26
2003-08-19	Standard trap nets	2.4 (normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.22 lb	17
1986-07-16	Standard gill nets	1.3 (below normal)	1.7 – 17.5	0.75 lb	4
1986-07-16	Standard trap nets	4.0 (normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.81 lb	8
1997-07-21	Standard gill nets	0.7 (below normal)	1.7 – 17.5	0.11 lb	2
1997-07-21	Standard trap nets	0.4 (below normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.09 lb	3
2002-08-26	Standard gill nets	0.5 (below normal)	1.7 – 17.5	0.15 lb	1
2002-08-26	Standard trap nets	6.0 (normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.20 lb	48

Black Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2000-08-21	Standard gill nets	106.5 (above normal)	7.7 – 104.7	0.56 lb	213
2000-08-21	Standard trap nets	34.3 (normal)	1.5 – 58.0	0.85 lb	274
2011-06-20	Standard trap nets	47.1 (normal)	1.5 – 58.0	0.27 lb	424
2011-06-20	Standard gill nets	43.2 (normal)	7.7 – 104.7	0.42 lb	259
1996-08-28	Standard gill nets	96.5 (normal)	7.7 – 104.7	0.57 lb	193
1996-08-28	Standard trap nets	2.3 (normal)	1.5 – 58.0	0.99 lb	14
1998-08-10	Standard gill nets	39.5 (normal)	7.7 – 104.7	0.54 lb	79
1998-08-10	Standard trap nets	18.1 (normal)	1.5 – 58.0	0.36 lb	127
2003-08-19	Standard gill nets	32.5 (normal)	7.7 – 104.7	0.22 lb	65
2003-08-19	Standard trap nets	376.6 (above normal)	1.5 – 58.0	0.20 lb	2636
1986-07-16	Standard gill nets	217.0 (above normal)	7.7 – 104.7	0.31 lb	651
1986-07-16	Standard trap nets	179.0 (above normal)	1.5 – 58.0	0.30 lb	358
1997-07-21	Standard gill nets	120.7 (above normal)	7.7 – 104.7	0.64 lb	362
1997-07-21	Standard trap nets	7.5 (normal)	1.5 – 58.0	0.74 lb	60
2002-08-26	Standard gill nets	60.0 (normal)	7.7 – 104.7	0.32 lb	120
2002-08-26	Standard trap nets	34.0 (normal)	1.5 – 58.0	0.54 lb	272

Brown Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2011-06-20	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.4 – 5.1	0.64 lb	1

Green Sunfish

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2011-06-20	Backpack electrofishing	22.8	—	—	18
2011-06-20	50-ft beach seine	0.7	—	—	2
1998-08-10	Standard trap nets	0.4 (normal)	0.3 – 2.8	0.11 lb	3

Hybrid Sunfish

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2011-06-20	50-ft beach seine	0.7	—	—	2
2011-06-20	Standard trap nets	0.1	—	0.24 lb	1
2011-06-20	Backpack electrofishing	5.1	—	—	4

Walleye

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2011-06-20	Standard gill nets	1.3 (normal)	0.8 – 3.8	4.14 lb	8
2002-08-26	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.3 – 0.8	1.17 lb	1

Pumpkinseed

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1986-07-16	Standard trap nets	0.5 (below normal)	0.7 – 6.5	0.44 lb	1

Depth Maps & Lake Info

View on MN DNR LakeFinder

Map & Directions

Get Directions

Showing 7 nearby bait & tackle shops on the map.

Nearby Bait & Tackle

R & R Bait & Tackle

New Ulm, MN

(507) 354-5318

★ 4.2

Nearby Marinas

701 Properties LLC

New Ulm, MN

(507) 766-8141

★ 5

701 Properties LLC

New Ulm, MN

(507) 766-8141

701 Properties LLC

Sleepy Eye, MN

(507) 766-8141

★ 5

Minnesota River Access New Ulm

New Ulm, MN

★ 4.8

Minnesota River boat access Riverside ParkNew Ulm, Minnesota

New Ulm, MN

★ 4

Hewitt Docks, Lifts & Pontoon Legs

Nicollet, MN

(507) 225-3421

★ 4.5

Resorts & Lodges Near Sleepy Eye

Plan your stay — fishing resorts and lodges near Sleepy Eye.

Lakes On 1st

Fishing Resort New Ulm

(507) 354-0306

Shirley's Park & Country Retreat - Seasonal Campground & Kayak Rental

Fishing Resort New Ulm

(651) 398-8731

View all 888 Minnesota resorts →

Fish Species

Species known to inhabit Sleepy Eye. Click any species for a full fishing guide.

Black Bullhead Black Crappie Bluegill Channel Catfish Common Carp Hybrid Sunfish Largemouth Bass Northern Pike Walleye Yellow Perch

Other Lakes in Brown County

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Plan Your Trip to Sleepy Eye

Weather forecast for Sleepy Eye — check wind, rain, and temperature before you go
GPS: 44.3072°N, 94.7321°W — Get Directions
View on MN DNR LakeFinder for the latest survey data and lake info
Review Minnesota fishing regulations for season dates and limits
A Minnesota fishing license is required for ages 16+ — buy online at dnr.state.mn.us

Data sourced from Minnesota DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife. Last verified: March 19, 2026. Learn how we maintain this data.