Bijou

Bijou (Beseau) Lake is a 210-acre lake located in western Becker County. The agricultural watershed, marginal water quality, and continuing shoreline development make it susceptible to winterkill. Bijou Lake has experienced a light winterkill in 2004, a moderate winterkill in 2001, and a severe winterkill in 1994. Property owners reported abundant dead fish in the spring of 2023, which prompted a fisheries survey to be conducted in May 2023 to assess the severity of the winterkill. Dead fish of all species were observed while surveying. Trap nets captured Northern Pike, White Sucker, Black Crappie, Black Bullhead, and Yellow Bullhead. These are all species which are more tolerant to low oxygen conditions, but no species were abundant. Northern Pike had an average length of 21 inches. Bijou Lake appears to have experienced a significant winterkill for Bluegill, Black Crappie, and Largemouth Bass during the 2022-2023 winter. This would be the first major winterkill in Bijou Lake since 1994. As a result, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Black Crappie were reintroduced in spring 2023. Angling opportunities for Northern Pike are still available, but it will take several years to have quality fishing for other species.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Bijou Lake was conducted on July 11, 2022 by Detroit Lakes Area Fisheries Staff. Data collected during this nearshore survey were combined with trap net and gill net data to calculate a Fish-based IBI (FIBI) score for the lake. The FIBI Tool-5 was used for scoring and resulted in a FIBI score of 38. Other scores have been 4 (June 2011), 9 (August 2011), and 31 (2017). The two oldest scores are below the impairment threshold (24) whereas the most recent score is above the impairment threshold for this tool. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Otter Tail River Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. 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.

Bijou Lake has a history of providing fair to good fishing for panfish, bass, Northern Pike, and Walleye between winterkills. It is a relatively shallow and eutrophic lake, though severe winterkills have been rare. However, heavy winterkill mortality did occur in 1994, moderate mortality in 2001, and light mortality in 2004. A standard survey was completed in June 2022 to evaluate the current status of the fish populations in the lake. Although Walleye abundance continues to be low in Bijou Lake, Northern Pike abundance increased slightly compared to the last survey in 2016. Pike size is respectable, with an average fish measuring 24 inches long. Black Crappie abundance was not high, but fish up to 10 inches long were found. Bluegill abundance was much higher than the 2016 survey, but most were six to seven inches long. Only four Largemouth Bass were captured, with the largest fish measuring 14 inches long. Despite high catches in the past, no Black Bullheads were captured in trap nets in 2016 or 2022. Other sampled species included Common Carp, Pumpkinseed, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.

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

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

Bijou has a maximum depth of 27 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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