Little Floyd

Little Floyd Lake is a 215-acre lake located in southwestern Becker County just north of the city of Detroit Lakes. The lake possesses a heavily developed shoreline and receives heavy recreational use and fishing pressure from the surrounding area. Zebra mussels were discovered in Big Floyd Lake, upstream of Little Floyd Lake, in 2018. Little Floyd Lake provides angling opportunity for Northern Pike, Walleye, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, and Black Crappie. A standard fisheries survey was completed on Little Floyd Lake in June 2021. Walleye fry are stocked into Little Floyd Lake annually at a rate of 1,000 fry per littoral acre. Despite stocking, the catch rate of Walleye in 2021 was only two Walleye per gill net. Walleye sampled in 2021 ranged in length from 15.1 to 24.6 inches, averaging 19.6 inches long. Northern Pike are abundant in Little Floyd Lake. During the 2021 survey a record high catch rate of roughly 31 pike per gill net was observed. Beginning in 2003, a special regulation (all pike from 24 to 36 inches must be released, daily limit 3, only one pike over 36 inches allowed) was put in place with the goal of improving size structure of pike in the lake. Pike sampled in 2021 ranged in length from 11.6 to 35.3 inches, averaging 20.4 inches long. Catch rates of Bluegill in Little Floyd Lake were relatively high between 1996 and 2006, and have since declined. Catch rates dropped from 49 fish per trap net in 2011 to approximately 17 fish per trap net in 2021. Bluegill sampled in trap nets ranged in length from 3.2 to 8.2 inches, averaging 5.4 inches long. Approximately 1% of Bluegill in trap nets were eight inches or longer. Age structures show that Bluegill do not reach eight inches until they are about nine years old. Few Black Crappie have been sampled during fisheries surveys in Little Floyd Lake. In 2021, a total of 15 crappie were sampled in combined gears ranging in length from 5.1 to 10.8 inches. Four Largemouth Bass were caught in trap nets, ranging in length from 13.2 to 17.2 inches in length. The average catch rate of Yellow Perch in 2021 was about two perch per net, slightly higher than the previous survey (2016). Sampled perch ranged in length from 5.0 to 5.9 inches, averaging 5.5 inches long. Additional species sampled in 2021 included Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, hybrid sunfish, and White Sucker. Although documented in previous surveys, no Cisco were caught during the 2021 survey. Anglers can help maintain and improve Little Floyd Lake's fishery by practicing selective harvest of fish, as well as taking precautions to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Shoreline owners can help to improve water quality and fish habit in the lake by maintaining shoreline buffer zones and leaving native aquatic vegetation stands intact.

A targeted survey of the nearshore fish community was conducted on July 14, 2016 by Lake IBI program staff. Sampling stations 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 stations. A 50-foot seine was used to sample six stations, a 15-foot seine was used at two stations, and conditions prevented the use of seines at two sampling sites. Nearshore sampling captured 15 species of fish including a few that are intolerant of disturbance (Banded Killifish, Iowa Darter, and Pugnose Shiner). Data from this survey is combined with data from a standard game fish survey completed in June 2016 to calculate a Fish-based Index of Biologic Integrity (FIBI) that describes the overall health of the lake. The FIBI score for Little Floyd Lake based on this survey is above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes and indicates a healthy fish community. Data from this survey will be included as part of a process to assess the condition of surface waters of the Otter Tail River watershed.

A survey of near shore fish species was conducted by Detroit Lakes Area Fisheries Staff on Little Floyd Lake (03038600) on July 12, 2016. Little Floyd Lake is 205 acres, located 4 miles north of Detroit Lakes, MN. During this survey, 1 100-foot sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake shore, sampling a variety of habitat types. Each site is sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with either a 50-foot or a 15-foot 1/8th-inch mesh seine, depending on habitat condition. During this survey, four sites were sampled with a 50-foot seine, and three were was sampled with a 15-foot seine. Site conditions prevented the use of seines at three sites. Backpack electrofishing was done at 10 sites. Nearshore sampling captured 19 species of fish, including five species intolerant of disturbance and/or poor water quality. Intolerant species sampled were Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Pugnose Shiner. Other species sampled during the nearshore effort included Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Central Mudminnow, Fathead Minnow, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Johnny Darter, Largemouth Bass, Northern Redbelly Dace, Pumpkinseed, Spottail Shiner, White Sucker and Yellow Perch. The near shore fish survey data is combined with gill net and trap net data from a June 2016 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (FIBI) score based on expectations for similar lakes. This survey is contributing to a watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. Little Floyd Lake is located in the Ottertail River Watershed.

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

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

Little Floyd has a maximum depth of 34 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

Yes — Little Floyd has confirmed zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.