Waukenabo

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Waukenabo Lake was conducted on August 6, 2025, by Aitkin area fisheries staff. Sampling sites (N=14) 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 all 14 sampling stations, 2 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 2 stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at 5 stations. Six stations were not seined due to deep water, soft sediment, or dense emergent vegetation. Nearshore sampling captured 18 species of fish including 4 species that are intolerant of disturbance (e.g., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, Rock Bass) and zero that are tolerant of disturbance. The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from an 8/4/2025 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 expected values 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 Waukenabo 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 Waukenabo 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-Grand Rapids watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Waukenabo by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.

Waukenabo Lake is 644-acres and located approximately 14 miles northeast of Aitkin, less than a mile off Highway 169. Nearly half the lake is less than 15 feet deep, with a maximum depth of 38 feet. A public access is located at the south end of the lake. Habitat ranges from rocky shorelines and steep contours to shallow bays and islands of emergent vegetation. The aquatic plant community is integral to maintaining good water clarity and quality, as well as maintaining healthy fish populations. Emergent plants such as bulrush, and coarse woody habitat such as fallen trees are important for shoreline protection and provide essential spawning habitat for bass, panfish, and Yellow Perch. A standard survey to assess the fish population was performed the week of 8/4/2025. Bass electrofishing was conducted the week of 5/22/2025. Anglers fishing at Waukenabo can expect moderate numbers of mid-size Walleye with an outside chance at catching a fish approaching lengths in the upper-20.0-inch range. Walleye gill net catches during the 15 previous surveys have ranged from 0.3 to 10.3 per net, with an average of 3.4 per net. The 2025 Walleye catch of 3.6 per net was below the lake class average but similar to the long-term average and was up from the 2020 catch rate of 1.8 per net. Captured Walleye averaged 17.6 inches and ranged from 8.3 to 27.1 inches. Growth was similar to county averages, with Walleye averaging 14.6 inches at age 4. Nine year classes were present, exceeding the management goal of 4 year classes. The 2020, 2021, and 2022 year classes were most abundant, representing 61% of the catch. These three year classes were all fingerling-stocked. The 2023 year class (age 2), though not abundant in the gill net catch, was represented in the gill net and electrofishing samples, indicating some survival of young fish, which were stocked as yearlings in 2024. Northern Pike relative abundance increased from the 2020 survey (2.4 per gill net) to 6.1 per gill net. Despite the increase in abundance, size structure remained good. Northern Pike in Waukenabo ranged in size from 18.7 to 34.3 inches, with an average length of 24.1 inches. Thirty-two percent of the catch was 26.0 inches or larger. Prior to the 2025 survey, Northern Pike relative abundance had been decreasing in Waukenabo Lake. It is encouraging that despite this probable increase in the Northern Pike population, a quality size component remains. Anglers fishing Waukenabo can expect to encounter large Northern Pike, and are encouraged to release these fish to maintain this size structure and generally benefit the fish community. Relative abundance of Black Crappie was up from the 2020 (7.1 per gill net) and 2018 (7.4 per gill net) surveys at 13.8 per gill net. This catch rate was well above average for the lake class (1.0 per net). Captured Black Crappie averaged 8.4 inches with individuals sampled up to 11.4 inches. Ages ranged from 1 to 6 years, with 5 year olds (2020 year class) and 3 year olds (2022 year class) the most abundant. It takes Crappie about 6 years to reach 10 inches in Waukenabo. Anglers should expect to see good numbers of Black Crappie 10.0 inches and larger in the next few years. Bluegill were captured in trap nets at a rate of 10.3 per net, more than double the rate of the 2020 survey (4.6 per net) and the highest rate since 1995 (12.6 per net). Bluegill ranged from 3.4 to 8.6 inches, with an average length of 6.2 inches. Nineteen percent of Bluegill captured were 8.0 inches or greater, indicating preferred-size individuals are present in the population. Bluegills needed 6-7 years to reach 8 inches in Waukenabo. Yellow Perch are an important forage species for the lake's game fish including Walleye. Past catch rates have been variable, ranging from 1.0 to 18.3 per gill net and have averaged 4.3 per gill net since 1970. In 2025, Yellow Perch were captured at rate of 3.6 per gill net, which is near the long-term average and the highest observed since 2015 (7.8 per net). Largemouth Bass were captured at a high rate compared to other area lakes at 70.9 per hour in the electrofishing sample. Like many lakes in the Aitkin area, Largemouth Bass abundances appear to be increasing. Largemouth Bass captured in 2025 ranged from 4.1 to 17.6 inches, with an average length of 9.4 inches. They take about 4 years to reach about 11.7 inches, which is just a little above average for the area. 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 08/06/2025) to more broadly sample the general fish community and develop a fish-based index of overall lake health. Eighteen nearshore fish species were sampled during the IBI survey including Blackchin Shiner, Banded Killifish, Brook Silverside, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Central Mudminnow, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Iowa Darter, Johnny Darter, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Tadpole Madtom, Yellow Bullhead, and Yellow Perch.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Waukenabo Lake was conducted on June 30 - July 2, 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. Backpack electrofishing was completed at fourteen sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample nine stations and a 15-foot seine was used at four stations. One station was not seined due to dense vegetation. Nearshore sampling captured seventeen species of fish, including five species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass). No species tolerant of disturbance were captured. A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by LBMA program staff. Twelve trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured eleven species of fish, including one that is intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Rock Bass) and one that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Black Bullhead). Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number and Bowfin and Northern Pike comprised a majority by biomass. The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from an August 2025 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based index of biological 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 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 website. Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Waukenabo Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score above the general use impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to previous findings, including a repeat survey conducted in 2025 to understand variability, which indicated that Waukenabo is biologically healthy. 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 Waukenabo Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.

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

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

Waukenabo has a maximum depth of 38 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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