Wolf

Fish communities are dynamic in all lakes and streams, constantly changing due to weather patterns, habitat alterations, stocking, fishing pressure and many other influences. In Wolf Lake, winterkill greatly increases the intensity of these fish population shifts. Historically, the lake has been known for "boom or bust" fishing, depending upon the amount of time since the most recent fish kill. The most recent winterkill occurred in the winter of 2013-2014. Northern Pike and Black Bullhead, two species able to tolerate low dissolved oxygen, have survived and thrived in Wolf Lake. Northern Pike catch rates were near their all-time high in 2016 . Walleye, on the other hand, were not found in the lake before stocking began during the 1980s. Walleyes are more vulnerable to winterkill than are Northern Pike and bullhead. The current Walleye population is very low despite regular stocking. Bluegill and Yellow Perch populations are on the upswing and 2016 catch rates reached their historic highs in Wolf Lake. Black crappies remain a part of the fishery, but are not as abundant as in 2002. Average size of sampled fish were 5.9 inches for Bluegill, 6.2 inches for Black Crappie, and 6.8 inches for Yellow Perch. A state-owned pump and baffle aeration system, maintained and operated by the Aho family and the Wolf Lake Sportsmen's Club has attempted to maintain a refuge area for fish during critical winter periods. In 2009, participants switched from the old pump and baffle to two new fountain type aeration units. Two more units were added in 2010. Stocking and aeration can both help to provide or increase a fishery but good habitat is essential to any fish community. Fish habitat and water quality begins with good land stewardship. Wolf Lake is currently only lightly-developed but as a marginal fish lake it is even more important to follow best management practices on watershed lands.

Fish communities are dynamic in all lakes and streams, constantly changing due to weather patterns, habitat alterations, stocking, fishing pressure and many other influences. In Wolf Lake, winterkill greatly increases the intensity of these fish population shifts. Historically, the lake has been known for "boom or bust" fishing, depending upon the amount of time since the most recent fish kill. Northern pike and black bullhead, two species able to tolerate low dissolved oxygen, have survived and thrived in Wolf Lake. Pike catch rates were near their all-time high in 2009. Walleye, on the other hand, were not found in the lake before stocking began during the 1980s. Walleyes are more vulnerable to winterkill than are pike and bullhead. The current walleye population is very low despite regular stocking. Bluegill and yellow perch populations are on the upswing and 2009 catch rates reached their historic highs in Wolf Lake. Black crappies remain a part of the fishery, but are not as abundant as in 2002. A state-owned pump and baffle aeration system, maintained and operated by the Aho family and the Wolf Lake Sportsmen's Club has helped to maintain a refuge area for walleye and other susceptible fish during critical periods. Consequently, some walleyes are able to live long enough to reach "keeper" size. In 2009, participants switched from the old pump and baffle to two new fountain type aeration units. Two more units were added in 2010. Stocking and aeration can both help to provide or increase a fishery but good habitat is essential to any fish community. Fish habitat and water quality begins with good land stewardship. Wolf Lake is currently only lightly-developed but as a marginal fish lake it is even more important to follow best management practices on watershed lands.

Wolf Lake is a 1,445-acre, shallow, eastern Becker County lake that experiences low dissolved oxygen levels during most winters. Most recently, severe winterkill occurred in 1996 and moderate winterkill occurred in 1997. A slight winterkill occurred in 2001. A pump and baffle aeration system (purchased by the DNR) is cooperatively operated each winter by a local family and sportsmen's club. The aeration system provides a refuge area for fish when dissolved oxygen levels become critical. However, when winterkill conditions are extreme, winterkill may still occur.The 2002 northern pike gill net catch rate of 17 per net was higher than that recorded in 1997 (7.7 per net) and was a new record high catch. The northern pike sampled in 2002 ranged from one to five years old with the majority (97 percent) one to three years old. Growth rates were above average. No pike longer than 30 inches were found. The mean length of sampled northern pike was 19.9 inches.The 2002 walleye gill net catch rate was 3.2 per net. The catch rate was 5.8 per net in 1997. The walleye sampled in 1997 were all three or four years old and had survived the 1996 winterkill. Those sampled in 2002 ranged from one to six years old. Walleye sampled in 2002 exhibited normal growth rates. The mean length of walleye sampled was 15.3 inches. Wolf Lake has little natural walleye reproduction and because it is a winterkill lake is periodically stocked with walleye fry. The result is somewhat of a boom or bust type of walleye fishery depending on winterkill frequency and severity, and on the success of fry stockings.The gill net catch for yellow perch reached a historic high point in 2002 at 18.1 per set. The 1997 gill net catch was 12.6 per set. The mean length of perch sampled was 6.7 inches but perch up to 12 inches were collected.Black crappie and bluegill sunfish had not been sampled in the two surveys prior to 2002. In 2002, 28.9 crappies and 5.4 bluegills per trap net were collected. The black crappies were from two to four years old and exhibited above average growth. They should provide some good angling in a few years. The majority of the bluegills were only two years old but they exhibited fast growth rates.Trap net catches of black bullheads declined from 395 per set in 1997 to 154 per net in 2002. Brown bullhead trap net catches increased from 0.9 per net in 1997 to 13.2 per net in 2002.Wolf Lake is a relatively fertile body of water that is often on the threshold of winterkill. It is important that property owners follow shoreline best management practices to prevent any further decline in water quality. These practices include retaining natural shoreline vegetation and aquatic plants, and not using fertilizers-or using phosphorus free fertilizers.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, and Largemouth Bass in Wolf. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Wolf has a maximum depth of 16 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Wolf is from 2016. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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