East LaBelle

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in East LaBelle Lake was conducted July 1st, 2025, by Detroit Lakes Fisheries staff. Data was collected from 10 sampling stations spaced around the lake. All stations were sampled with a backpack electrofishing unit, 2 were sampled with a 50-foot seine and 4 stations were sampled with a 15-foot seine. Four stations were not sampled with a seine because of dense vegetation, water being too deep, muck being too thick, or a combination of all of these circumstances. Nearshore sampling captured six species of native fish (Bluegill, Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed Sunfish and Yellow Perch) and two tolerant species (Black Bullhead and Green Sunfish). The three most common species captured during the nearshore survey in order of abundance were: Bluegill, Yellow Perch, and Green Sunfish. The nearshore fish survey data was combined with the standard survey data from June 2025 to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (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. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to a watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. East LaBelle Lake is located in the Buffalo River Watershed.

East LaBelle Lake is a 146-acre, class-34 lake located in western Becker County, northeast of the city of Lake Park. Under normal water levels the lake has no outflows. A culvert connecting East LaBelle to West LaBelle Lake functions as an outlet during high water events. Roadways are located adjacent to East LaBelle along the west, north, and eastern shores. The lake is highly productive and can have low dissolved oxygen late in some winters. There are five houses on the lake and a public access located on the north shore. A standard fisheries survey was completed in early July 2025 to assess the fish populations in East LaBelle Lake. Anglers will find an extremely high abundance of Northern Pike in East LaBelle Lake, however, most of these fish will be small. The catch rate in 2025 was the second highest for the lake and one of the highest catch rates for the Detroit Lakes area. The average size of the pike captured was 20 inches and the longest was 36.5 inches. About 78% of the pike sampled were less than 22 inches. Walleye numbers continue to be low with gill nets capturing an average of 2.5 Walleye per net. Average size was quite good with all Walleye captured in 2025 being over 15 inches. Sixty percent of the Walleye measured were over 20 inches. Bluegill numbers were average for the lake and fish of all sizes were captured. About 16% of the Bluegill caught in trap nets were over eight inches. The longest Bluegill measured was just over nine inches. Black Crappie and Largemouth Bass were captured in low numbers in the trap nets, which is often the case with this sampling gear. Black Crappie up to 10.5 inches were measured and Largemouth Bass up to 19 inches were captured. Other fish species sampled were Black and Brown Bullhead, Green Sunfish, hybrid sunfish, Pumpkinseed, White Sucker, and Yellow Perch.

East LaBelle Lake is a 146-acre, class-34 lake located in western Becker County northeast of the city of Lake Park. A culvert connecting East LaBelle to West LaBelle Lake functions as an outlet during high water events. East LaBelle is a very productive lake and occasionally experiences low dissolved oxygen in the late winter. The lake's fish community has undergone many changes since it was initially surveyed in 1964. Walleye fry are stocked into East LaBelle Lake annually. Walleye catch rates have been variable since initial surveying, fluctuating between zero and six Walleye per gill net. The 2020 average catch rate was two Walleye per net, similar to the lake's historical average. Sampled Walleye ranged in length from 18.8 to 24.7 inches, averaging 21.3 inches. The lack of smaller sized Walleye in nets indicates poor recruitment of stocked fry in recent years. Moderate catches of Northern Pike (less than 10 pike per gill net) were documented in early surveys until 1998 when net catches began showing a steady increase. The Northern Pike catch rate increased dramatically in the 2020 survey, averaging about 50 pike per net. This rise in Northern Pike numbers is likely a result of improved spawning opportunity over the past decade due to high water levels. Northern Pike surveyed in 2020 ranged in length from 13.5 to 35.8 inches, averaging 19.3 inches. Pike between 15 and 21 inches were most abundant, accounting for over 73% of total pike catch. Past surveys documented low to moderate catch rates of Yellow Perch in East LaBelle until the early 2000s when catch rates then started to decline, dropping down to about five perch per net in 2020. Reduced numbers of Yellow Perch over the past decade are likely a consequence of heavy predation by Northern Pike. Yellow Perch sampled in 2020 ranged in length from 4.4 to 8.9 inches, averaging 6.2 inches long. Similar to Yellow Perch, Bluegill abundance was moderate. Bluegill averaged 5.5 inches long, but fish up to 9 inches long were also found. Approximately 3% of the sampled Bluegill were eight inches or longer, indicating that the population was dominated by small to moderately sized fish. Few Black Crappie have been sampled in East LaBelle Lake. Sampled Black Crappie ranged in length from 3.7 to 10.8 inches, averaging 8.3 inches. Bass were found to range in length from 4.8 inches to 17.5 inches. Additional species sampled in the 2020 survey included Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, and White Sucker. Anglers can help improve East LaBelle Lake's fishery by harvesting smaller fish for eating, specifically Northern Pike under 24 inches long which have become overly abundant in the lake.

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

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

East LaBelle has a maximum depth of 19 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in East LaBelle is from 2025.

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