Rabbit

Daytime electrofishing was carried out on 5/27/2025 at Rabbit Lake to monitor the Largemouth Bass population. This was the first time Largemouth Bass have been targeted on Rabbit Lake during an electrofishing survey. Two netters were used, and sampling occurred for 2 hours. A total of 68 Largemouth Bass were captured, resulting in a catch rate of 34.0 per hour. Bass ranged from 3.9 to 18.5 inches and averaged 9.8 inches and 0.8 pounds. Other species observed included one Bigmouth Buffalo that was not captured but estimated to be greater than 35 inches, and two Walleye, one that measured 22.6 inches and the other estimated to be at least 25 inches.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Rabbit Lake was conducted on 7/24/2024 by Aitkin Area Fisheries 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. Backpack electrofishing was completed at ten sampling stations, one of which was performed by boat due to soft sediment. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample four stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at five stations. One station was not seined due to soft sediment. Nearshore sampling captured 21 species of fish including four species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass) and one tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Black Bullhead). The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from a 06/24/2024 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based index of biotic integrity (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish and Black Bullhead). 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. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Rabbit Lake is healthy as indicated by a FIBI score above the general use impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to previous findings which indicated that Rabbit Lake is fully supporting aquatic life. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Mississippi River-Brainerd watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Rabbit Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.

A standard survey (6 gill nets / 9 trap nets) was conducted on Rabbit Lake during the week of 6/24/2024. Rabbit Lake is located in east central Aitkin County approximately 3.5 miles north of Glen. Rabbit Lake has a surface area of 214 acres with a maximum depth of 51 feet. The water was a tannin-stained brown color with a secchi disc reading of 7.0 feet in 2024. There is a small state owned public access with an earthen ramp and no dock located on a small bay on the east part of the lake. Rabbit Lake is known for having a few quality-sized Northern Pike and an abundant population of small Bluegill. In 2024, Northern Pike sampled in gill nets (3.0 per gill net) ranged in size from 18.4 to 29.4 inches, with an average length of 22.9 inches and average weight of 2.7 pounds. Growth rates and size structure appear to have decreased in recent years. This may be related to a decrease in the Yellow Perch population. Between 1987 and 1992, adult Yellow Perch were stocked to help re-establish the population and increase growth rates of Northern Pike. By 1999, the Yellow Perch population had increased substantially and Northern Pike growth rates displayed a marked improvement. However, the Perch population has declined to less than one fish per gill net in the last four surveys. It is unclear whether the stocking of Walleye fingerlings beginning in 2000, was causative or just coincidental to the decrease in Perch abundance. Bluegill numbers in 2024 (34.6 per trap net) increased since the last survey in 2019 (11.4 per trap net), although they were within the normal range for the lake class as well as past surveys on Rabbit Lake. Bluegill ranged in length from 3.4 to 8.3 inches and averaged 5.9 inches. While growth rates are rather slow for Bluegills in Rabbit Lake, we did observe four fish greater than 8.0 inches in the 2024 sample. Hybrid Sunfish up to 9.1 inches were also present in the 2024 sample and generally grow faster than Bluegill. While they accounted for only about 5 fish per trap net, about 30 percent were 8.0 inches or greater. Other species available to anglers on Rabbit Lake include Black Crappie and Largemouth Bass. While one Walleye was observed in the trap net sample, past stocking of Walleyes was not very successful and was discontinued after the last stocking in 2014. A few fish likely remain from that past management. In addition to the standard survey work, IBI (Index of Biotic Integrity) sampling using backpack electrofishing and seining was also conducted in 2024, to more broadly sample the general fish community and develop a fish-based index of overall lake health. Fourteen nearshore fish species were sampled during the IBI survey including Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Central Mudminnow, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Iowa Darter, Jonny Darter, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, Tadpole Madtom, Yellow Bullhead and Yellow Perch.

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

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

Rabbit has a maximum depth of 51 feet and a mean depth of 19 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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