Section Ten

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Section Ten Lake was conducted on July 29, 2025, by Aitkin area fisheries staff. Sampling sites (N=10) 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 10 sampling stations, 3 of which were sampled via boat due to deep water, soft sediment, or dense emergent vegetation. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample 3 stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at 4 stations. Three stations were not seined due to deep water, soft sediment, or dense emergent vegetation. Nearshore sampling captured 15 species of fish including two species that are intolerant of disturbance (e.g., Blackchin Shiner and Iowa Darter) and one that is tolerant of disturbance (e.g., Green Sunfish). The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from a 7/28/2025 standard survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based score of biotic integrity (FIBI). The FIBI score uses fish community data to quantify a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify 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, Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish, Common Carp). 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 web site. Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Section Ten Lake appears 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 Section Ten Lake is fully supporting aquatic life. These 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 Section Ten Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.

Section Ten (Wladimiraf) is a 421-acre lake located in southwestern Aitkin County. The public access is located on the east side of the lake. Most of the lake is less than 10 feet deep with a 17-foot hole located in the western bay. Substantial beds of emergent vegetation such as bulrush still exist along much of the shoreline, creating excellent habitat for bass and panfish. Anglers at Section 10 will find opportunities for Bluegill, Black Crappie, Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass. A small population of Walleye is still present, but all stocking of Walleye in Section 10 ceased by 2022. Some Walleye may continue to be encountered due to connectivity with Sissabagamah Lake, which is stocked. Black Crappie relative abundance was above average for lakes of this type and were captured at a rate of 8.0 per gill net. The average size was 9.0 inches and fish up to 10.5 inches were observed, indicating that some quality-sized fish are present in Section 10. Relative abundance of Bluegill captured in trap nets increased from the 2020 survey (6.6 per net) to 11.1 per net in 2025. The Bluegill population in Section 10 is comprised of generally small fish, as no Bluegill over 8.0 inches were captured in 2025. High relative abundance of quality and preferred-size Largemouth Bass likely regulate the Bluegill population in Section 10, although growth rates of Bluegill are also rather slow, reaching only 4.2 inches in 4 years. Northern Pike relative abundance has been relatively stable at a level lower than what is typical for this type of lake. The gill net catch rate of 5.3 fish per net was also similar to the long-term average of 5.4 per net. Northern Pike size structure improved slightly since the last survey, with an average length of 22.3 inches, and fish observed up to 32.3 inches observed in the gill net sample. Anglers are encouraged to release large Northern Pike, as they generally benefit a system's fish community. Largemouth Bass are abundant in Section 10 and were captured at a rate of 32.5 per hour while electrofishing. Size structure of Largemouth Bass is satisfactory, with fish observed up to 18.8 inches and an average length of just under 12.0 inches. Further, Largemouth Bass were captured at a rate of 4.0 per gill net, up from 2.3 per gill net in the previous survey. Gill net catch rates of Largemouth bass are well-above average for the lake class and have been above this benchmark in all historical surveys back to 1991. Yellow Bullhead were captured at a rate of 45.3 per gill net, indicating a high abundance is present in Section 10. In addition to the standard survey work, IBI (Index of Biotic Integrity) sampling using backpack electrofishing and seining was also conducted in 2025 (Targeted Survey 07/29/2025) to more broadly sample the general fish community and develop a fish-based index of overall lake health. Fifteen nearshore fish species were sampled during the IBI survey including Blackchin Shiner, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Central Mudminnow, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Iowa Darter, Johnny Darter, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Bullhead, and Yellow Perch.

Section Ten (Wladimiraf) is a 421-acre lake located in southwestern Aitkin County. The public access is located on the east side of the lake. Most of the lake is less than 10 feet deep with a 17 foot hole located in the western bay of the lake. Substantial beds of emergent vegetation such as bulrush still exist along much of the shoreline, creating excellent habitat for bass and panfish. People fishing Section Ten Lake will find angling opportunities for Bluegill, Black Crappie, Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass. There is also a small population of Walleyes present, which are occasionally caught by anglers, although none were sampled in this survey in spite of six years of fry stocking and two years of fingerling stocking. Walleye numbers in Section 10 Lake have never been high, and appear to be decreasing to even lower levels. It's likely that during high water periods, some Walleye migrate upstream from Lake Sissabagamah, which has a population of stocked Walleye. There has, however, been year classes of Walleye documented in Section 10 that have not corresponded to the stocking records for Lake Sissabagamah indicating that Walleyes have been able to reproduce successfully in Section 10 with some consistency. Black Crappie abundance was above average for lakes of this type and they have been slowly increasing in abundance over survey history to a gill net catch rate of 11/net. The average size was 8.9 inches and fish up to 11 inches were observed, indicating the potential for some quality fish. The Bluegill population appears to have decreased since the last survey as measured by trap catches. The lower abundance may allow some fish to grow larger as more food resources are available. The size structure has been improving gradually. The average size of Bluegill is about 6.6 inches. Around 23 percent of Bluegill were 7.5 inches or longer, additionally a couple fish over 8 inches were sampled for the first time in many years. Northern Pike were below average at 4.0 fish per gill net and ranged from 14.5 to 29.3 inches in length, with a mean size of 19.7 inches. Though sample size was small the majority of pike were below the 22-26 inch statewide protected slot. Larger pike can have benefits to the rest of the fish community, and anglers are encouraged to release them. Largemouth Bass are abundant in the lake and were caught at a rate of 2.3/ gillnet. No bass greater than 16 inches were caught in this survey, but we were unable to electrofish this year. Electrofishing is a better way to assess the population and previous surveys have noted Largemouth Bass over 19 inches.

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

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

Section Ten has a maximum depth of 17 feet and a mean depth of 7 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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