Boot

Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Boot Lake on July 30th, 2025. This was done to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on data collected from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth was 69.9 feet), the water temperature decreased to 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 21.0 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 34.4 feet at the time of sampling. This layer in the water column was 13.4 feet, indicating oxythermal habitat for Cisco was present. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 10.5 degrees C (50.9 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Cisco at the time of the survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 5 years, between 2006-2021, also indicated suitable oxythermal habitat in all years surveyed, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2020 when the suitable oxythermal habitat layer was 8.3 feet thick. When adequate oxythermal habitat is not available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.

Boot Lake is located in northeastern Becker County, six miles northwest of Two Inlets. Boot Lake is a narrow, deep-water lake with a surface area of 378 acres and a maximum depth of 109 feet. There is a state-owned public access located on the north shore of the lake. Boot Lake is best known for its Walleye population, but also provides angling opportunities for Northern Pike. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Boot Lake is in lake class 23. Class 23 lakes are generally deep, very clear, have hard water and are irregularly shaped. Other class 23 lakes in the Park Rapids management area include Benedict, Big Bass, Blue, East Crooked, Eleventh Crow Wing, and Spearhead. Walleye abundance in Boot has remained stable the past several surveys with catch rates at the high end for this lake class. Walleye sampled had an average length of 16.8 inches, weighed 1.8 pounds, and measured up to 25.2 inches. Yellow Perch, an important forage for Walleye were small in size and sampled in low numbers. Northern Pike were sampled in high numbers for this lake class. Northern Pike abundance in past surveys has fluctuated from moderate to high numbers. Anglers will find the Northern Pike population dominated by small, "hammer handle" pike averaging 18.3 inches in length and 1.3 pounds. The Northern Pike population in Boot is limited by high reproduction and recruitment of young pike and slow growth rates. Past surveys have sampled very few larger Northern Pike. Boot Lake is not really known as a Bass - Panfish lake because of its limited shallow water habitat and productivity. However, Boot Lake supports moderate numbers of Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Largemouth Bass, and low numbers of Black Crappie. Bluegill sampled were small in size, with an average length of 5.2 inches and very few over 7.0 inches. Bluegill growth rates are slow in Boot Lake. Past and present surveys have shown the Black Crappie population to fluctuate from low to moderate numbers. Largemouth Bass have been sampled in low to moderate numbers in past surveys. Currently no Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) have been identified in Boot 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.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Boot Lake was conducted on June 28-30, 2021, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) 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 all 10 sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample nine stations and site conditions prevented the use of a seine at one station. Nearshore sampling captured 18 species of fish including six species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, Least Darter, Mottled Sculpin, and Rock Bass) and one that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Green Sunfish). A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by IBI Program staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured nine species of fish, including one that is intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Rock Bass). Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number and biomass. The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from an August 2021 survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (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). 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 indicate that the fish community in Boot Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score that exceeds the exceptional use threshold determined for similar lakes. These results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Crow Wing River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

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

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

Boot has a maximum depth of 109 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Boot is from 2021.

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