How We Build and Verify Our Data

Minnesota Fishing Guide is built on public, verifiable data — not self-reported listings or paid placements. Lake profiles, survey data, and access sites come directly from state agency records.

Data Sources

Our primary data source is Minnesota DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife. We pull structured records that include:

• Lake depth maps and bathymetric surveys from DNR LakeFinder
• Fish population survey data (CPUE, catch rates, normal ranges)
• Fish stocking records from Minnesota DNR hatcheries
• Public water access sites (boat ramps, carry-in access, shore fishing)
• Special regulations and invasive species designations

We do not fabricate listings. If a lake or access site does not appear in our directory, it is because it does not appear in the source data. If you believe a listing is missing or incorrect, contact us.

Google Places Enrichment

For business listings (fishing guides, bait shops, resorts), we cross-reference against the Google Places API to add:

• Google star rating and review count
• Verified phone number and website
• Precise geographic coordinates for map placement
• Google Maps link for directions

Name matching uses multiple algorithms (Jaccard similarity, substring matching, and Minnesota bounding-box validation) to avoid false positives. If we are not confident in a match, we skip it rather than display incorrect information.

How Often We Refresh

Our data pipeline runs on a regular cycle:

• DNR data refresh — We pull updated lake surveys, stocking records, and access site data from Minnesota DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife.
• Google Places re-enrichment — Ratings, review counts, and contact info for businesses are refreshed to keep profiles current.
• Site rebuild and deploy — After each refresh, the entire site is rebuilt and redeployed with the latest data.

Every listing page displays a "Last verified" date so you can see when the data was last confirmed.

What We Don't Do

• We do not accept payment to add or remove listings
• We do not fabricate reviews or ratings — all review data comes from Google
• We do not guarantee the accuracy of contact information beyond what public records provide
• We are not affiliated with any Minnesota state agency

Verify It Yourself

We encourage you to independently verify data on this site. Lake survey data can be checked against DNR LakeFinder. If a business has a Google Business Profile, the link goes directly to Google Maps where you can read reviews yourself.

Who Maintains This Site

Minnesota Fishing Guide is operated by M. Shores Tech, LLC, a technology company that builds directory sites for underserved niches. We build tools that make public data more accessible to Minnesota residents.

Questions or corrections? Contact us.