Martin

Martin Lake is a 232-acre, class 24 lake located in northern Anoka County, about 5 miles west of the town of Wyoming. The lake has 140 littoral acres, and a maximum depth of 20 feet. The primary management species is Walleye, and the secondary management species are Bluegill and Black Crappie. To prevent winter kills, an aeration system was installed in 1993. Abundant populations of Common Carp and Bullhead may be limiting factors for other fish species in the lake. Common Carp removal has occurred in 1987, 1999, and 2008 by licensed commercial fisherman. Martin Lake is stocked with Walleye fry at a rate of 1,000 fish per littoral acre (140,000 fish). This report details the most recent gill net survey from July of 2024. The previous gill net survey was conducted in June of 2015. Walleyes were sampled by gill nets at a rate of 1.0 fish per net. This is the third consecutive year that the lake has failed to meet the 25th percentile for the lake class. However, the mid-range management goal for Martin Lake is being met: To maintain a Walleye population with a catch rate of 1.0 fish per net. Size was above average for the lake class with lengths ranging from 17.8 to 20.5 inches and an average of 18.9 inches. The majority of fish aged were 5 years old. Northern Pike were sampled at a rate of 3.2 fish per gill net, which is slightly below average for the lake class. This catch rate has increased over the previous two surveys: 0.33 and 2.25 fish per net in 2009 and 2015, respectively. Average size was 24.8 inches. Fish ranged from 18.6 inches to 33.3 inches, and nearly 17% were 30 inches or longer. Yellow Perch were sampled at a rate of 5.83 fish per gill net. This catch rate is lower than the previous survey (11.25 fish per net) and is below average for the lake class. Yellow Perch catch rates have been variable among survey years for Martin Lake. Size was above average for the lake class, with an average length of 6.8 inches. The largest Yellow Perch sampled was 8.3 inches. Bluegill and Black Crappie were also sampled in gill nets; however, summer gill nets are not the optimal sampling gear to produce reliable data for the estimation of abundance or size structure for these species. Other fish species were sampled including Largemouth Bass, Brown Bullhead, Black Bullhead, and Common Carp.

Martin Lake is a 232-acre lake located in northern Anoka County, near the town of Wyoming. The lake is primarily managed for Walleye, with Bluegill and Black Crappie as secondary management species. An aeration system designed to prevent winter kills was installed in 1993. The 2021 spring trap netting survey was conducted to provide baseline information on Bluegill for the new 10-fish bag limit experimental fishing regulation that went into effect in 2021. The goal of this regulation on Martin Lake is to protect the quality size structure of Bluegill that are currently found here. Thirteen trap nets were set on May 19, 2021 and lifted on May 20, 2021 catching a total of 344 Bluegill. Bluegill ranged in size from 3.1 inches up to 7.9 inches in length, with an average size of 6.2 inches. Aging structures (otoliths) were collected from 101 Bluegill. The largest number of fish were from 2018 (3 years old) and 2015 year-class (6 years old). The oldest Bluegill sampled in 2021 was determined to be from the 2014 year-class, making it 7 years old. The size structure of Bluegill found in Martin Lake is similar to other Metro-area lakes, though it does have a history of producing larger Bluegills. During this survey 31% of the Bluegill sampled were 7 inches or larger.

Martin Lake is a 232-acre, class 24 lake located in northern Anoka County, near the town of Wyoming. The lake is primarily managed for Walleye, with Bluegill and Black Crappie as secondary management species. Walleye fry are stocked at a rate of 2,000 fish per littoral acre (280,000 fry) annually in the spring. An aeration system designed to prevent winter kills was installed in 1993. Walleye catch per unit effort (CPUE) was 0.25 fish per net in the gillnets, the lowest CPUE since 1984. The average Walleye sampled in Martin Lake was 16 inches long and the largest was 19.13 inches. No Walleyes smaller than 13 inches were sampled. Northern Pike CPUE was 2.25 fish per gillnet, between the first and second quartiles for abundance in class 24 lakes. The average Northern Pike sampled in 2015 was 22.42 inches long, with pike up to 31.61 inches sampled. Bluegill CPUE was 31.29 fish per trap net in 2015, between the second and third quartiles for class 24 lakes. The average bluegill sampled in the trap nets in 2015 was 7.01 inches long, and the largest was 8.94 inches. Black Crappie CPUE was 4.29 fish per trap net, down from 13.22 fish per trap net in 2009, and between the first and second quartiles for abundance in class 24 lakes. The average length of Black Crappies sampled in trap nets during the 2015 survey was 6.89 inches, and the largest fish was 9.41 inches. White Crappie CPUE was 0.86 fish per net in the trap nets, between the first and second quartiles for class 24 lakes. The average White Crappie sampled in trap nets during the 2015 survey was 8.82 inches long, and the largest was 10.39 inches. Yellow Perch were sampled at a CPUE of 11.25 per gillnet, above the median level for class 24 lakes. The average size Yellow Perch in 2015 was 7.15 inches in length and the largest was 8.98 inches.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Walleye, Green Sunfish, White Crappie, and Black Crappie in Martin. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Martin. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Martin has a maximum depth of 20 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Martin is from 2024.

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