Sheriff

Shoreline seining was conducted on 8/12/2022 to evaluate Yellow Perch reproduction. Perch are stocked as adults, when available, from nearby Rice Lake during an annual Northern Pike trapping project in an effort to rebuild the forage base and potentially provide an opportunity for anglers. Yellow Perch were first stocked in 2009 and a survey of the lake in 2016 showed increasing numbers. Seven seine hauls caught a total of 18 Yellow Perch ranging in size from 3.5 to 5.2 inches indicating some survival and reproduction, yet no young-of-the-year perch were found. Yellow Perch provide beneficial forage for Northern Pike and Walleye and may benefit those populations if they can recover in Sheriff Lake.

Sheriff Lake is an 85-acre lake located in east central Aitkin County. The lake supports a variety of game fish populations including walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, largemouth bass, bluegill and black crappie. Historically, walleye stocking supported a decent walleye fishery for a lake of this type varying from 2 to 12 per gill net from 1970 through 1996. However, recent surveys (2006, 2014, 2016) have found walleye fingerling survival to be minimal. In 2016, there were no walleye sampled in the gill nets prompting a management change to discontinue walleye fingerling stocking, let forage base rebuild and implement a fry stocking strategy. When available, yellow perch from Rice Lake refuge are also stocked to provide forage for gamefish and opportunities for anglers. The gill net catch for yellow perch increased to 7.5 per net, indicating good survival from a mixed age stocking in 2014 and January 2016. This marks the highest recorded abundance of yellow perch since the mid 1990's. Northern pike sampled in gillnets ranged from 13 to 28 inches in length with an average length of 23 inches. Northern pike are relatively abundant for this lake type at 7.8 fish per gill net lift and catch rates have been stable for the last 27 years. Northern pike growth rates are above average with 38% larger than 24 inches. Black crappie catches decreased from a spike in 2014 (20.8/gill net) to 2016 (2.8/gill net), which is within the normal range for this type of lake and near the long term median for Sheriff Lake. Bluegill catches increased since 2006, but size remained small with a mean length of 5.0 inches and only one fish over 8 inches observed in the samples.

A special summer gill net assessment was conducted on 7/1/2014. Data from this survey will be used to evaluate the current stocking strategy, which began in 2009, and calls for walleye fingerling stocking at a rate of 2 lbs/littoral acre in even numbered years as well as annual adult yellow perch stocking at a rate of up to 10 lbs/surface acre when available. Walleye fingerlings were stocked at or above the target rate in 2010, 2012, and 2014. However, availability of yellow perch has been inconsistent, therefore they were stocked only in 2009 (361 lbs), 2010 (351 lbs), and 2011 (13 lbs). Walleye catch (0.5/net) was similar to 2006 (0.3/net) and remained low compared to historic high catches observed in 1970 (12.0/net) and 1980 (7.3/net). Yellow perch catch (1 fish) was also similar to 2006 (no fish) and well below the historic high catch in 1985 (16.3/net). Northern pike catch (9.3/net) was above the interquartile range for lake class 20 for the fourth consecutive survey since 1990. Size ranged from 16.7 to 30.5" and averaged 21.8" and 2.3 pounds. Pike were stocked regularly from 1962 to 1972 with the most recent stocking in 1982 and 1984 indicating natural reproduction is responsible for maintaining the population at the current high level. Largemouth bass catch (2.3/net) was similar to 2006 (2.8/net) and above the interquartile range for lake class 20. Black crappie catch (20.8/net) increased significantly since the previous high catch (6.8/net) in 2006 (Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test: n=4, p=0.10). Size averaged 6.6" with fish up to 13.4" sampled. Yellow bullhead catch (8.5/net) also increased significantly since the previous high catch (5.3/net) in 2006 (Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test: n=4, p=0.10).

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Largemouth Bass, and Pumpkinseed in Sheriff. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Sheriff has a maximum depth of 80 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Sheriff is from 2016. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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