Douglas

Douglas Lake is an elongated lake with muck bays on both ends, sand along much of the rest of theshoreline, and an island in the middle. Dense vegetation grows in the bays and along the shoreline outto about 50 feet from shore. The water is moderately hard and fertile, and lightly bog-stained.Reasonable access to the lake is limited to private residences. This survey revealed that northern pike abundance and average size (20 inches) are aboutaverage. The northerns, which were 11 to 28 inches long, have plenty to eat. The primary items on thepike menu are golden shiners, black crappies and yellow perch, all of which are more abundant thanaverage. Some of the yellow perch and black crappies are large enough (up to 9 inches long) to supportnormal growth of even the larger pike. Bluegill abundance is at the low end of normal and the fish are mostly over 7 inches long.Smaller bluegills are sparse, possibly because natural reproduction in Douglas Lake has been poor inthe last few years. The survey crew observed many females that had not spawned yet, despite the latedate (late June). Black crappies and yellow perch are also presently abundant enough to gobble up mostof the bluegill fry that do make it out of the nest. Intense predation on bluegill fry may furtherlimit the production of bluegills in the last few years. Black crappies are growing slowly in Douglas Lake. Year class strength alternated between strongand weak years from 1988 to 1992. Fluctuations in both bluegill and crappie abundances probably leadsto variability in angling success. Between 1988 and 1991 a large population of bigmouth buffalo fish became established. Acommercial fisherman removed four tons of bigmouth buffalos from the lake in June of 1992. No bigmouthbuffalos were caught during the current survey. Black bullheads, particularly 7 to 9 inchers, were abundant. The combination of perch, shiners,bullheads and crappies probably results in a high catch rate although not necessarily for quality-sizedfish, or for northern pike which already have plenty to eat.

The trap net indices for golden shiner, pumpkinseed and black crappie are above their respective third regional quartiles. Northern pike ranged from three to seven years of age. Growth rates are within the normal range for all growth increments checked. Bluegill ranged from one to seven years of age. Growth rates were normal for all growth increments analyzed. Black crappie ranged from one to eight years of age with strong year classes indicated for 1983, 1984 and 1987. Growth rates for the second and third increments were thirty-seven and thirty percent slower than normal, respectively. Growth rates for the first, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh increments were normal. Yellow perch ranged from two to four years of age with a strong year class indicated for 1985. Growth rates for the first and second increments were thirty one and twenty one percent slower than normal, respectively. Growth rates for the third and fourth increments were normal.

Bullheads are over abundant. Northern Pike are average in numbers, Bluegills are low in numbers and slow growing.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, and Pumpkinseed in Douglas. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Douglas has a maximum depth of 39 feet and a mean depth of 14 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Douglas is from 1993. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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