Norris

Norris Lake is a small water body in northern Anoka County near the town of St. Francis. Anglers gain access at two primitive areas. One on the north side of the lake on County Road 24 and on the east side off County Road 47. The most abundant species sampled during the survey was bluegill. While their population is high their average size is small. Bluegills up to 8.3 inches were sampled but anglers will have to do quite a bit of sorting. Other sunfish species sampled include hybrid and green sunfish. Black crappies were sampled in low numbers. Northern pike were found in average numbers but below average size. Yellow bullhead were caught in average numbers.

Panfish species were the most abundant fish sampled in this survey. Bluegill were highest in number with a tenth of acceptable size to anglers. Black crappie were captured in average numbers for this type of lake with a tenth of good size. Hybrid sunfish, green sunfish, and pumpkinseed were sampled in lower numbers, with half of the fish of acceptable size to anglers. Northern pike were the most abundant predator species present with one-fourth of good size. Largemouth bass appeared to be low in number, although electrofishing was not done to assess their population. Yellow bullhead were sampled in average numbers for this type of lake with one-fourth of good size. Only two black bullhead were captured, much lower than in previous assessments.

THE CATCH OF NORTHERN PIKE WAS OVER TWICE THE LOCAL MEDIAN CATCH RATE. THE SAMPLE CONSISTED OF AGES II AND III WHICH EXHIBITED FAST GROWTH. THE LARGEMOUTH BASS CATCH WAS ALSO ABOVE THE LMCR AND AGES II, III, AND V WERE REPRESENTED. GROWTH OF THESE WAS SLOW. BLUEGILLS WERE ABUNDANT AND RANGED FROM 3 TO 8 INCHES. THE MEDIAN SIZE WAS ABOUT 5 INCHES; PSD = 14%. BLACK CRAPPIES WERE PRESENT. YELLOW BULLHEADS WERE MOST ABUNDANT - NEITHER SAMPLE CONTAINED LARGE FISH. HYBRID AND GREEN SUNFISH WERE FOUND AT ABOVE LOCAL MEDIAN ABUNDANCE.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, and Hybrid Sunfish in Norris. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Norris has a maximum depth of 21 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Norris is from 2008. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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