Strawberry

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Strawberry Lake, which lies within the boundaries of the White Earth Reservation, was conducted on July 24-27, 2023, 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 18 sampling stations, but one station was sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample 17 stations and site conditions prevented the use of a seine at one station. Nearshore sampling captured 21 species of fish including seven species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Mimic Shiner, Rock Bass, and Smallmouth Bass) and one species that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Green Sunfish). The nearshore data was combined with gill net and trap net data from a July 2022 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., Black Bullhead, Fathead Minnow, and 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.

Strawberry Lake is a 1,522-acre lake in north-central Becker County within the boundaries of the White Earth Indian Reservation. It has a reputation as a good Walleye fishing lake depending on the time of the year. It is also one of the few lakes in the Detroit Lakes area with a Smallmouth Bass population. As with most area lakes, Strawberry Lake is undergoing increasing development pressure. There is a state-owned access on the south shore of the lake. A standard fisheries survey was conducted at the end of July 2022 to evaluate the fish populations at Strawberry Lake. The 2022 Walleye gill net catch rate was 12.1 per set, slightly higher than the 11.7 per net caught in 2017. The average length of fish sampled was 17.7 inches and ranged from 7.3 to 28.1 inches. Almost 86% of the Walleyes sampled were over 15 inches. Natural reproduction occurs at Strawberry Lake, but the strongest year-classes were in years when Walleye fingerlings were stocked. Walleye catch rates, average size, and growth have remained relatively stable since the 1979 survey. The gill net catch rate for Northern Pike in 2022 was 8.6 per set compared to 16.1 per set 2017. This was slightly below the lake's historical average of 11.2 Northern Pike per set. The sampled pike ranged from 10.1 to 34.8 inches with an average length of 17.7 inches. Bluegill trap net catches in Strawberry Lake have historically fluctuated widely. The 2022 trap net catch rate of 8.0 Bluegills per set was well below the historical average of 30.3 per net. Bluegills averaged 6.3 inches with fish up to 8.9 inches sampled. Black Crappie trap net catches in Strawberry Lake have historically been low. However, though not considered the standard sampling gear, gill nets caught more Black Crappie with a catch rate of 6.0 fish per net, a record high for the lake. Crappie averaged 9.2 inches with the biggest being 13.9 inches. Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass are both present in Strawberry Lake. Relative abundances of both basses have been much higher since the 1980's than the period before. The catch rate of Smallmouth Bass in gill nets set a record high of 4.3 fish per net in 2022. Smallmouth Bass up to 20.0 inches were sampled and averaged almost 15 inches. About 74% of the Smallmouth Bass sampled were over 14 inches. The catch rate of Largemouth Bass was 1.8 fish per trap net, just below the historical average of 1.9 fish per trap net. Largemouth Bass averaged only 10.6 inches long. Yellow Perch gill net catches have remained very low since the 2001 survey. Only three Yellow Perch per net were caught in 2022. The lake's historical average is 11.6 Yellow Perch per net. Perch length averaged only 6.3 inches. Other species sampled in Strawberry Lake in 2022 included Black, Brown, and Yellow Bullhead, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, and White Sucker. No Cisco (Tullibee) were caught in 2022.

Strawberry Lake is a 1,522-acre, class-27 lake in north-central Becker County within the boundaries of the White Earth Indian Reservation. It has a reputation as a good Walleye fishing lake depending on the time of the year. Water quality is relatively good and the lake contains a Cisco population. Carlson's trophic state index based on Secchi disk readings, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a was near 40 (mesotrophic). It is also one of the few lakes in the Detroit Lakes area with a Smallmouth Bass population. As with most area lakes, Strawberry Lake is undergoing increasing development pressure. The gill net catch rate for Northern Pike in 2017 was 16.1 per set. This was the second highest catch rate since 1971 and well above the lake's historical mean of 11.2 pike per set. The mean length of Northern Pike sampled in gill nets was 17.8 inches and lengths ranged from 10.4 to 25.2 inches. The 2017 Walleye gill net catch rate was 11.7 per set, similar to 2012 and just below the historical average. Walleye sampled had a mean length of 17.0 inches. Although regular fingerling stocking occurs in Strawberry Lake, a significant portion of the Walleye catch in 2017 appears to have originated from natural reproduction. Approximately 44% of the Walleyes originated from years when no stocking occurred. Yellow Perch gill net catches have remained very low over the four most recent assessments, with a new historic low catch in 2017 of 0.6 Yellow Perch per net. The lake's historical mean is 11.6 Yellow Perch per net. Lengths of the sampled perch ranged from 6.2 to 8.3 inches with a mean of 7.2 inches. Bluegill trap net catches in Strawberry Lake have historically fluctuated widely. The 2017 trap net catch rate of 11.4 Bluegills per set was below the historical average of 30.3 per net. Lengths of sampled Bluegills ranged from 3.0 to 9.0 inches with an average length of 6.3 inches. Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass are both present in Strawberry Lake. Relative abundances of both basses have been much higher since the 1980's than the period before. The gill net catch rate of Smallmouth Bass set a record high of 3.1 fish per net in 2017. Smallmouth Bass ranged 10.2 - 18.7 inches in length and averaged 15.9 inches. The trap net catch rate of Largemouth Bass was 2.6 fish per net, above the historical mean. Largemouth Bass ranged 5.7 - 18.9 inches in length and averaged 10.1 inches in length. Black Crappie trap net catches in Strawberry Lake have historically been low. The 2017 catch rate was 0.5 crappies per trap net. Though not considered the standard sampling gear, gill nets caught more Black Crappie with a catch rate of 3.1 fish per net. Gill net caught Black Crappie averaged 10.2 inches in length and ranged 5.8 - 13.0 inches. Other species sampled in Strawberry Lake in 2017 included Black, Yellow, and Brown Bullhead, Hybrid and Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rock Bass, and White Sucker. No Ciscoes were caught in 2017.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Black Crappie, Hybrid Sunfish, Rock Bass, and Smallmouth Bass in Strawberry. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Strawberry has a maximum depth of 40 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Strawberry is from 2022.

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