Farm Island

Fall night electrofishing (EW) is conducted annually to assess Walleye recruitment by monitoring the abundance of young-of-the-year (YOY) and yearling (age-1) Walleye. Previous fry stocking assessments have occurred on Farm Island Lake (2010-2016) via fall night electrofishing. In these assessments, it was concluded that while some natural reproduction does occur, although in general, non-stocked year classes have not appreciably contributed to the fishery when compared to stocked year classes. Further, it was determined that annual fall sampling should continue to occur to monitor Walleye production. Electrofishing was conducted on the night of October 7, 2025. Sampling time was 2 hours and resulted in a YOY Walleye catch rate of 0.0 per hour (rates reported as run time) and down from 1.5 YOY per hour in 2024. Historical catch rates have averaged 40.8 YOY per hour in stocked years and 2.1 YOY per hour in non-stocked years. Low catch rates in recent assessments may be the result of the substantial increase and peak abundance of invasive Zebra Mussels. Zebra mussels are possibly limiting Walleye fry survival due to intensive filter feeding that limits the amount of food available for larval fish. The catch rate for age 1 Walleye was also 0.0 per hour and comparable to previous yearling catch rates in 2018 and 2019. Nineteen older Walleye were sampled during the assessment, ranging from 12.5 to 20.9 inches and had an average length of 16.8 inches. Due to the apparent poor fry survival in 2025, and lack of age 1 fish from 2024, about 12,900 fingerlings were stocked in fall 2025 (DNR and Farm Island Lake Association) to help supplement Walleye recruitment in Farm Island Lake.

Farm Island Lake is a popular lake located seven miles south of Aitkin. There are two public accesses with concrete log ramps, one in the northeast and one in the southwest portion of the lake. Sand is the primary substrate around much of the lake, but scattered muck, silt, gravel, and rubble areas create diverse aquatic habitats. Consequently, aquatic vegetation is also diverse with a variety of emergent, floating leaf, and submerged species present. The invasive species Curly-leaf pondweed is also present. Healthy aquatic plant communities help prevent erosion, stabilize bottom substrates, maintain water clarity, and provide adult spawning and juvenile rearing habitat for numerous aquatic organisms. Zebra mussels are also present in Farm Island Lake after being first discovered in 2020. Abundance has increased tremendously and are common on any hard substrate as well as vegetation in the lake. Farm Island Lake is typically surveyed every three years, with various other surveys added in, occasionally. A standard assessment of Farm Island was performed the week of 8/11/2025, and Bass electrofishing was conducted a component of that standard survey the night of 5/28/2025. Additionally, fall juvenile electrofishing is also conducted annually (Targeted Survey 10/07/2025) to gauge success of Walleye recruitment. Farm Island Lake has a history of Walleye stocking dating back to 1922. Fall electrofishing and gill net assessments have shown low recruitment of naturally reproduced fish in comparison to fry-stocked year classes, suggesting natural reproduction is inadequate to maintain the fishery at desired levels. Therefore, the current management strategy calls for annual fry stocking. The 2025 Walleye catch rate decreased from 2023 (8.0 per gill net) to 4.7 per gill net. This was below the management goal (8.0 per gill net) but within the normal range for the lake class (4.0 - 9.6 per gill net) and was the same as what was observed in 2016. Walleye ranged from 8.3 to 23.4 inches, with an average length of 14.8 inches. Thirty-five percent of captured Walleye were within the 16.0 to 19.0-inch protected slot. Eight year classes ranging from age 1 to age 11 were observed, with strong 2019, 2021 and 2022 year classes, and a moderate 2023 year class. Growth rates were similar to county averages, with Walleye reaching 14.8 inches in four years. Northern Pike relative abundance decreased from the 2023 high of 15.9 per gill net down to 4.5 per gill net. Size structure remained poor, with Northern Pike ranging in length from 13.3 inches to 28.3 inches and averaging 18.7 inches. Only two out of the 68 (3%) Northern Pike that were sampled were over 26.0 inches. Farm Island anglers are encouraged to harvest Northern Pike below the 22 to 26-inch protected slot. Farm Island is known as a good Bass lake by anglers. Electrofishing catch rates of Largemouth Bass were 35.5 per hour, similar to what was observed in 2023 (33.6 per hour). Captured Largemouth Bass averaged 9.5 inches and ranged in length from 2.4 to 14.2 inches in all gear. Smallmouth Bass were first discovered in Farm Island in 2010 and have since established a fishable population. Smallmouth Bass were sampled by electrofishing at a rate of 7.1 fish per hour in 2025, the highest rate observed at Farm Island. Gill net catch rates were also the highest observed at 2.4 per net. Captured Smallmouth Bass ranged from 5.4 to 18.2 inches and averaged 13.5 inches in length and have good growth rates, reaching 14 inches in 4 years. Bluegill catch rates in trap nets increased from 5.8 per net in 2023 to 8.3 per net in 2025. This was still below average for the lake class (15.3 per net) but was within the normal range for similar lakes. Size structure appeared subpar, with fish ranging from 3.1 to 8.3 inches, and averaging 5.0 inches. Only one out of 122 Bluegill captured was over 8.0 inches in length. While Black Crappie are often targeted by anglers in spring and winter, our survey gear sampled few fish in this August survey. Consideration will be given to moving the trap net portion of the sampling to spring. Tullibee were sampled at low levels (0.1 per gill net) which is typical for Farm Island Lake. A temperature - dissolved oxygen (TDO) profile was collected on 8/5/2025 to measure the amount of thermal habitat available for Tullibee. The TDO3 (temperature at 3 mg/l dissolved oxygen) was determined to be 22 degrees C, which is slightly colder than previous years. The overall oxy-thermal habitat suitable for Tullibee was limited to the upper layer of the water column, which is typical for this lake, yet it was the best in recent years. Data collected from 2009-2023 indicate only marginal thermal habitat for Tullibee in most years, with the best conditions having been found in 2009, 2013, 2015, 2018 and 2023. Although, even then, conditions were still "poor" compared to other lakes in the area that are monitored. Because the Aitkin Area is located near the southern edge of Minnesota's Tullibee range, TDO profiles should continue to be collected to monitor the availability of Coldwater habitat. 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 07/07/2025) to more broadly sample the general fish community and develop a fish-based index of overall lake health. Twenty-four nearshore fish species were sampled during the IBI survey including Blackchin Shiner, Banded Killifish, Black Bullhead, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Blacknose Shiner, Brook Stickleback, Central Mudminnow, Golden Shiner, Iowa Darter, Johnny Darter, Logperch, Largemouth Bass, Mimic Shiner, Mottled Sculpin, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spottail Shiner, Tadpole Madtom, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead, and Yellow Perch.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Farm Island Lake was conducted on July 7, 2025, by Aitkin area fisheries staff. Sampling sites (N=24) 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 24 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 14 stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at 7 stations. Three stations were not seined due to deep water, soft sediment, or dense emergent vegetation. Nearshore sampling captured 24 species of fish including 9 species that are intolerant of disturbance (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, Rock Bass) and 1 that is tolerant of disturbance (e.g., Black Bullhead). The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from an 8/11/2025 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 Farm Island Lake is healthy as indicated by a FIBI score that exceeds the exceptional use threshold determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to previous findings which indicated that Farm Island 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 Farm Island by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Rock Bass, and Northern Pike in Farm Island. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Farm Island has a maximum depth of 56 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

Yes — Farm Island has confirmed zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.