Straight

Straight Lake (DOW # 03-0010-00) is located in Osage, in eastern Becker County. Straight lake has a surface area of 471 acres and a maximum depth of 63 feet. There is a state-owned public access located on the south shore of the lake off Hwy 34. Straight Lake provides fishing opportunities for Walleye, Northern pike, Largemouth Bass, and panfish. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Straight Lake is in Lake Class 25. Lake Class 25 lakes generally have a very high percentage of littoral area (depths less than 15 feet), with very irregularly shaped shoreline. Other Lake Class 25 lakes in the Park Rapids management area include: Bad Axe, Belle Taine, Eagle, Island, Little Mantrap, Little Sand, Mantrap, Ojibway, Spider, Third Crow Wing, Two Inlets, and West Crooked. Walleye abundance remained stable from the previous survey and was abundant compared to other Lake Class 25 lakes. The average length and weight of Walleye were 17.1 inches and 1.93 pounds, with fish sampled up to 25.2 inches. Yellow Perch are an important forage for Walleye and Northern Pike. Yellow Perch abundance was down from previous surveys and the lowest on record, but comparable to other Lake Class 25 lakes. However, Yellow Perch were small with an average length of 5.8 inches, and no perch were sampled over 7 inches. Northern Pike abundance was on the higher side compared to similar lakes. The average length and weight of Northern Pike has increased from past surveys to 24.0 inches and 3.16 pounds. The largest Northern Pike sampled was 34.2 inches. For the first time ever, a Muskellunge was sampled during the lake survey while there have been some reports of anglers catching them in the past. Straight Lake has been a popular lake for panfish, especially during the winter. Angling opportunities include Black Crappie and Bluegill. Black Crappie abundance was high but fish were smaller in size with an average length of 7.6 inches, but anglers can find acceptable sized Black Crappies in the 9-11.5-inch range. Most Bluegill sampled were 4-7 inches with some sampled over 9 inches. There is a Tullibee sport gill netting season in December on Straight Lake. They are an important forage species for larger Walleye and Northern Pike. Tullibee abundance was the highest ever recorded with an average length of 11.6 inches, with fish sampled up to 18.0 inches. Other species sampled include Brown Bullhead, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Rock Bass, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead. Currently, no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Straight Lake. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access.

Straight Lake is located in Osage, in eastern Becker County. Straight has a surface area of 471 acres and a maximum depth of 63 feet. A state-owned public access is located on the south shore of the lake. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Straight is in lake class 25. Class 25 lakes generally have a very high percentage of littoral area (depths less than 15 feet), with very irregularly shaped shoreline. Other class 25 lakes in the Park Rapids area include: Bad Axe, Belle Taine, Eagle, Island, Little Mantrap, Little Sand, Mantrap, Ojibway, Spider, Third Crow Wing, Two Inlets, and West Crooked. Walleye abundance decreased during the 2020 survey but was in the upper range of similar lakes in lake class 25. A typical walleye caught by an angler will be in the 14-23 inch range. The average length of walleye surveyed was 19 inches, with the largest sampled being 27.6 inches. Yellow Perch are an important forage for Walleye and Northern Pike. Perch abundance was down from previous surveys, but it is comparable for other similar lakes. However, Yellow Perch were small with an average length of 6 inches. Northern Pike abundance is going to be high, and the size is going to be on the small side. The average length and weight was 22.3 inches and 2.62 pounds respectively. The largest Northern Pike sampled was 36 inches. Straight Lake has been a popular lake for panfish, especially during the winter. Angling opportunities include Black Crappie, and Bluegill. Black Crappie were sampled ranged from 3.5-11.5 inches in length, but anglers can find acceptable size Crappies in the 9-11.5 inch range. Most Bluegill sampled were 4-7 inches with some sampled over 9 inches. Tullibee have a sport gill netting season in December on Straight Lake. They are an important forage species for larger Walleye and Northern Pike. Tullibee abundance was the highest ever recorded with an average length of 10.5 inches and the largest sampled was 15.5 inches. Other species sampled include Brown Bullhead, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Rock Bass, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead. Purple loosestrife is an aquatic invasive species (AIS) that has been identified in Straight Lake. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access.

Straight Lake (03-0010-00) is a 471.44-acre lake with a maximum depth of 63 feet located next to Osage, MN. Park Rapids Fisheries staff conducted a survey targeting near shore fish species on July 23, 2020 to assess populations of non-game and small sport fish. Ten 100-foot sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake shore, sampling a variety of habitat types. Each site was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot 1/8th-inch mesh seine, depending on habitat conditions. During this assessment, nine sites were sampled with a 15-foot seine. Site conditions prevented the use of seines at one site. Backpack electrofishing was done at all 10 sites with one being conducted from the side of the boat. Nearshore sampling captured thirteen species of fish including two species intolerant of disturbance; Banded Killifish, and Blackchin Shiner. Other species sampled during the nearshore effort included Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Central Mudminnow, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Iowa Darter, Largemouth Bass, Molted Sculpin, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, and Yellow Perch. Nearshore catches will be used along with gill net and trap net catch data from a standard fisheries survey conducted on August 24, 2020, to calculate a fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) score, which is indicative of the health of Straight Lake. This survey is contributing to a watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. Straight Lake is located in the Crow Wing River Watershed.

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

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

Straight has a maximum depth of 63 feet and a mean depth of 15 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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