Middle Cormorant

Middle Cormorant Lake is a 373-acre lake located in southwestern Becker County 13 miles south of the city of Lake Park. The lake possesses a heavily developed shoreline and receives high recreational use and fishing pressure from the surrounding area. The lake maintains a navigable channel to Nelson and Upper Cormorant Lake and a non-navigable connection to downstream Big Cormorant Lake. Zebra mussels were discovered in the lake in 2019. Middle Cormorant Lake provides angling opportunities for Northern Pike, Walleye, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, and Black Crappie. A standard fisheries survey was completed on Middle Cormorant Lake in August 2021. Catch rates of Walleye have remained low in Middle Cormorant Lake since the 1977 survey. Spawning habitat suited for Walleye is limited in the lake, therefore the fishery is sustained through periodic fingerling stocking. Gill nets captured an average of three Walleye per net in 2021. Sampled Walleye ranged in length from 9.4 to 25.6 inches, averaging 17.6 inches long. Northern Pike catch rates were below average in 2021. On average, roughly six pike per gill net were captured. Sampled pike ranged in length from 12.7 to 31.5 inches and averaged 21.3 inches long. Of the sampled pike, 34.5% were greater than or equal to 24 inches in length, revealing a fair number of quality sized fish. Bluegill abundance in 2021 was below average with trap nets catching 32 fish per net. Sampled Bluegill ranged in length from 3.4 to 8.4 inches, averaging 5.8 inches long. Approximately 1% of Bluegill sampled in trap nets were eight inches or longer. Bluegill exhibited slow growth, with fish not reaching eight inches until over a decade of growth. In 2021, a total of 25 crappie were caught in combined gears ranging in length from 4.5 to 11.0 inches. Nine Largemouth Bass were caught in trap nets, ranging in length from 5.8 to 17.8 inches and averaging 9.4 inches long. Catch rates of Yellow Perch in Middle Cormorant Lake have always been historically low and no perch were caught during the 2021 survey. Additional species sampled in the 2021 survey included Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, Rock Bass, Pumpkinseed, hybrid sunfish, and White Sucker. One Smallmouth Bass was captured, the first time this species has been found in the lake since a survey in 1966. Yellow Bullhead were extremely abundant in catch and were the most common among the three bullhead species. Common Carp have been documented in the lake but were not sampled during the 2021 survey. Anglers can help maintain and improve Middle Cormorant Lake's fishery by harvesting small-moderately sized Northern Pike and Bluegill and releasing larger 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, leaving native aquatic vegetation stands intact, and using wise land management practices.

Middle Cormorant is a 366-acre lake located in western Becker County. It currently has a navigable connection to upstream Nelson and Upper Cormorant Lakes and a non-navigable connection to downstream Big Cormorant Lake. This lake is ecologically well-suited to Largemouth Bass, panfish, and Northern Pike. Good Walleye spawning habitat is scarce in Middle Cormorant, but immigration is possible from the other connected lakes. The modest Walleye fishery is sustained primarily by a combination of immigration and regular stocking. Walleyes sampled in 2014 averaged a healthy 2.6 pounds each. Northern Pike were more abundant with an identical average weight of 2.6 pounds but some pike over 30 inches were also found. Bluegill trap net catches were lower than those in past studies but gill net catches were relatively high indicating that fish were occupying deep water during the August survey. The numbers of large Bluegill (over 8.0 inches) in Middle Cormorant were up in 2014 compared to the recent past, but not as abundant as in assessments conducted during the 1960's and 1970's. Approximately one of every five Bluegills sampled by gill nets in 2014 was over eight inches in length. The diverse fish community in Middle Cormorant currently reflects relatively good water quality. There are very few Black Bullheads. There is an average population of larger than normal Walleyes in the lake compared to ecologically similar lakes. There are good numbers of small Northern Pike and Bluegill. Anglers can help increase the average size of these species by releasing Bluegills over seven inches and Northern Pike over 24 inches. Other fish species found in this lake include Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, Yellow Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, hybrid sunfish, Green Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, White Sucker, Common Carp, and Rock Bass. Smallmouth Bass were also found during past studies but none have been sampled since 1977. This species is known to inhabit Big Cormorant which is the next lake downstream in the chain. Middle Cormorant is a relatively small lake with heavy shoreline development. Shoreline owners and other watershed dwellers are encouraged to use wise land management practices that will help protect the water quality, fish populations, and property values.

Middle Cormorant is a 360-acre lake located in western Becker County. It currently has a navigable connection to Nelson and Upper Cormorant Lakes and a non-navigable connection to Big Cormorant Lake. This lake is ecologically well suited to largemouth bass, panfish, and northern pike. Good walleye spawning habitat is scarce in Middle Cormorant, but immigration is possible from the other connected lakes. The modest walleye fishery is sustained by a combination of immigration and regular stocking. Walleyes sampled in 2010 averaged a healthy 1.8 pounds each. Northern pike were small and more abundant with an average weight of 2.1 pounds but some pike over 30 inches were also found. Bluegill test net catches were up from the 2004 study but still within the normal range for similar lakes. The numbers of large bluegill (over 8.0 inches) in Middle Cormorant were much fewer in assessments since 1983 than in those conducted during the 1960's and 1970's. A few have shown up in the two most recent surveys, but big bluegills are still rare. It is believed that angler exploitation is the primary factor. What appears to be happening is common in many bluegill lakes. As soon as bluegills reach sizes acceptable to anglers, they are being harvested. Thus, only smaller fish remain. If there is public support, special regulations may hold potential in this lake for increasing the number of larger bluegills. The diverse fish community in Middle Cormorant currently reflects relatively good water quality. There are very few black bullheads. There is an average population of larger than normal walleyes in the lake compared to ecologically similar lakes. There are good numbers of small northern pike and bluegill. Anglers can help increase the average size of these species by releasing bluegills over seven inches and northern pike over 24 inches. Other fish species found in this lake include black crappie, yellow perch, yellow bullhead, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish, white sucker, carp, and rock bass. Smallmouth bass have also been found during past studies but none were caught in 2010. This species is known to inhabit Big Cormorant which is the next lake downstream in the chain. Middle Cormorant is a relatively small lake with heavy shoreline development. Shoreline owners and other watershed dwellers are encouraged to use wise land management practices that will help protect the water quality, fish populations, and property values.

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

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

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

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

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