Floyd

Floyd (a.k.a., Big Floyd) Lake is a 1,212-acre lake located in Becker County two miles north of the city of Detroit Lakes. Floyd Lake's shoreline is heavily developed, and the lake receives a high amount of angling pressure and recreational use. Floyd Lake consists of two basins, the shallow larger main basin and the deeper more productive north basin (commonly referred to as Mud Lake). Zebra mussels were discovered in the lake in 2018. A daily limit regulation of five sunfish is in place on the lake. Floyd Lake provides angling opportunities for Northern Pike, Walleye, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, and Black Crappie. A standard fisheries survey was completed on Floyd Lake in June 2021. Walleye abundance has been stable in Floyd Lake since 1991. The 2021 average catch rate of Walleye was about four per gill net. Sampled Walleye ranged in length from 9.5 to 23.7 inches, averaging 18.7 inches long. The average catch rate of Northern Pike was roughly 13 pike per gill net, slightly lower than the historical average (about 15 pike per gill net). Sampled pike ranged in length from 9.9 to 34.6 inches, averaging 18.1 inches long. Of the sampled pike, 55.9% measured between 14 and 19 inches, indicative of a population dominated by small to moderately sized fish. Trap nets caught an average of seven Bluegill per net, the lowest catch rate observed since initial surveying. Although Bluegill abundance has declined, the size of fish has improved. Sampled Bluegill ranged in length from 2.6 to 9.9 inches, averaging 7.5 inches long. Based on age estimates, it takes about 12 years to grow a ten inch Bluegill in Floyd Lake. Black Crappie observed during the survey ranged in size from 5 to 13 inches long. Sampled Largemouth Bass were also found to range in length from 7.9 to 17.4 inches, averaging 12.5 inches long. Yellow Perch catch rates have remained low in Floyd Lake since initial surveying and this remained the case in 2021--gill nets captured only one Yellow Perch per net. Additional species sampled in 2021 included Brown Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, hybrid sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, and White Sucker. Anglers can help maintain Floyd Lake's fishery by voluntarily releasing medium to large sized fish and harvesting smaller fish for eating, specifically Bluegill and Northern Pike. Shoreline owners can help to maintain or improve water quality and fish habitat in Floyd Lake by maintaining shoreline buffer zones, leaving stands of native aquatic vegetation intact, and by taking precautions to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species introductions.

A survey of near shore fish species was conducted by Detroit Lakes Area Fisheries Staff on Floyd Lake (03038700) on July 13, 2016. Floyd Lake is 1,178 acres, located 3 miles north of Detroit Lakes, MN. During this survey, 14 100-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, seven sites were sampled with a 50-foot seine, and four were sampled with a 15-foot seine. Site conditions prevented the use of seines at three sites. Backpack electrofishing was done at 14 sites. Nearshore sampling captured 23 species of fish, including seven species intolerant of disturbance and/or poor water quality. Intolerant species sampled were Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Mimic Shiner, Pugnose Shiner, and Rock Bass. Other species sampled during the nearshore effort included Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Brook Stickleback, Fathead Minnow, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Johnny Darter, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Northern Redbelly Dace, Pumpkinseed, Spottail Shiner, Walleye, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead, 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. Floyd Lake is located in the Ottertail River Watershed.

Floyd is a 1,178 acre lake with a heavily developed shoreline located just north of the city of Detroit Lakes. The lake experienced a large increase in development between 1955 (191 homes) and 2001 (314 homes). It has a relatively diverse fish community including the cold water species Cicso, and it is popular for angling and other water recreation. A special regulation requiring the release of Northern Pike between 24 and 36 inches was implemented on Floyd Lake in 2003. After eight years the pike population did not show signs of improved size structure so the regulation was discontinued in 2011. In 2016, the gill net catch rate for Northern Pike was 18.6 per net which is above both the historical average for Floyd Lake and well above what is expected for similar lakes. Sampled Northern Pike ranged from 9.7 to 36.3 inches with an average length of 17.6 inches. Gill net catch rate for Walleye has remained fairly stable for Floyd Lake despite varying stocking strategies. Gill net catch in 2016 was 3.4 per net, which is just below the historical average and not far below the highest catch ever reported. Walleye lengths ranged from 14.8 to 27.7 inches with an average length of 19.4 inches. Bluegill trap net catch increased slightly to 39.8 fish per net in 2016. While this was less than the Floyd Lake's historical average, it is within the range expected in similar lakes. In 2016, Bluegills sampled by trap net averaged 6.4 inches and lengths ranged from 3.0 to 8.9 inches. It was found that it required 9 to 10 years for a Bluegill to reach 8 inches long. Yellow Perch catch has never been high in Floyd Lake with the historical average being below what is expected for similar lakes. However, gill net catch did increase slightly in 2016 to 1.3 perch per net. The average length of sampled perch was 7.4 inches and ranged from 6.4 to 9.9 inches. Trap net catch for Black Crappie remained characteristically low at 0.3 fish per set. Black Crappies sampled in both net types ranged from 10.2 to 13.6 inches. Black Crappie required 6 years to reach 10 inches long. The 2016 Largemouth Bass trap net catch rate greatly increased to 3.17 fish per net. This catch rate is well above both the historical average for Floyd Lake and what is expected in similar lakes. Across gears, Largemouth Bass length averaged 12.4 inches and ranged from 8.9 to 19.6 inches. It required bass about 7 years to reach 15 inches long. A survey of the emergent aquatic plants in Floyd Lake found that although there were some large beds of bullrush in the main south basin, the shoreline of the north basin was almost completely wringed with emergent plants. These plants play an important role in maintaining water quality and providing habitat to fish and wildlife. Efforts should be made to protect these emergent vegetation beds so that the health of Floyd Lake is maintained.

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

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

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 Floyd is from 2021.

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