Pine

Pine Lake (South Pine) is a 372-acre lake in southeastern Aitkin County located eleven miles northwest of Sandstone and is within the Kettle River Watershed. Due to its connectivity with Big Pine (58-0128-00) it is managed by Hinckley Area Fisheries. The lake has a maximum depth of 28 ft and 26% of the lake is 15 feet or less (96 littoral acres). It is a steep sided narrow basin that lies in a northeast/southwest direction. Walleye fry were stocked into Pine Lake on May 2, 2025. The stocking rate was 250 fry per littoral acre (250*96) which equals 24,000 fry. This stocking rate has occurred annually since 2023. A total of 100,000 fry were also stocked in Strawberry Creek on May 2, at multiple locations. Strawberry Creek is a large tributary of Pine Lake that is used as spawning and nursery area by walleyes. The fry were LMS (Lower Mississippi Strain), a local genetic strain sourced from the Knife River in April. Stocking the LMS strain fry was initiated in 2023. Walleye fingerlings are also stocked in even-numbered years at a rate of 1.3 pounds per littoral acre (125 pounds), which was initiated in 2018. Fingerlings have the MIS genetic strain (Mississippi River). Pine Lake was electrofished on the night of October 28, 2025 to evaluate the relative abundance of juvenile Walleye. Water temperatures were 52 °F. Nine 10-minute stations were sampled. These stations were established in the fall of 2025 to conform with standardized statewide protocols. A total of three age-0 walleyes were sampled. The 2025 age-0 walleye catch rate of 2/hour in 2025 was lower than the lake average of 6/hr. The average catch rate of LMS stocked years is 7/hour, while the average of non-LMS stocked years is 5/hour. We attempted to net all walleye observed. Twenty-seven age-1 and older Walleye were sampled at a rate of 18/hour. They ranged from 9.2 to 17.7 inches. Age-1 Walleye were most frequently sampled and ranged in length from 9.1 to 11.3 inches. The possibility of natural Walleye reproduction makes fry stockings contribution to the Walleye year classes unknown.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Pine Lake was conducted beginning on June 23th, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Ten sampling stations were completed with backpack electrofishing. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample eight stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at one station. One station was not seined due to steep drop-offs and heavy woody debris. Nearshore sampling captured 15 species of fish including three species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Iowa Darter, Mottled Sculpin, and Rock Bass) and zero that are tolerant of disturbance. A summer trap net survey was also conducted by LBMA program staff beginning on June 9th. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured 11 species of fish, including one that is intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Rock Bass). Bluegill and Black Crappie comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Bluegill and Walleye comprised a majority by biomass. The trap net catch was light overall. The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from a August 2022 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Kettle River watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Pine Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.

Walleye fry were stocked into Pine Lake on May 18, 2023. The stocking rate was 250 fry per acre which equals 24,00 fry. The fry were a local genetic strain sourced from the Knife River in April. Pine Lake was electrofished the night of October 11, 2023, to evaluate the relative abundance of young of the year Walleye. Similar to past fall assessments, the catch rate (12 age-0 Walleye per hour) was low. Age-0 Walleye ranged from 5.7 to 7.9 inches in length with a 7-inch average. Age-1 Walleye were sampled at a rate of 6 per hour. Age-1 Walleye ranged in length from 8.7 to 12.1 inches and had a 10.6-inch average. The possibility of natural Walleye reproduction and the low stocking rate makes the fry stocking's contribution to the 2023 Walleye year class unknown.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Hybrid Sunfish, Yellow Perch, Largemouth Bass, and Black Crappie in Pine. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Pine. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Pine has a maximum depth of 28 feet and a mean depth of 20 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Pine is from 2025.

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