Julia

In spring 2021, a daily bag limit reduction for sunfish (5 fish/day) was implemented on Lake Beltrami as part of the statewide Quality Sunfish Initiative (QSI). The goal of this special regulation is to maintain or improve Bluegill size structure by reducing angler harvest. In order to evaluate effectiveness of the regulation, Bluegill populations on many QSI lakes are periodically assessed. Primary data of interest include size structure metrics as well as age structure and growth information. Because age and growth data were recorded recently for Beltrami in 2020, these data were not collected in 2024. On June 3, 2024, night electrofishing was conducted on Lake Julia. Surface water temperatures were in the mid-sixties, and Bluegill was the only species collected. Areas sampled are shown in Figure 1. During 1:03 of on-time, 515 Bluegill were captured, resulting in a catch rate of 487.3 fish/hour. Lengths ranged from <1.0 to 9.3 inches with an average size of 4.8 inches. Forty fish were larger than eight inches, representing 7.8 percent of the sample. In 2020, the overall catch rate was much lower but size structure was similar.

Lake Julia is a 511-acre lake with a maximum depth of 43 feet located 15 miles north of the city of Bemidji in Beltrami County. There is a public water access located on the north shore of the lake with a concrete ramp and parking for 12 trucks/trailers. Lake Julia is managed for Walleye, Bluegill, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and Black Crappie. Lake Julia is stocked with Walleye fry on a two out of three year rotation. Fry stocking has provided a consistent Walleye fishery throughout much of the lake's management history. Natural reproduction has also been documented intermittently. Walleye numbers have improved slightly since the last assessment in 2018. The 2023 Walleye gill-net catch rate was over 8 fish per net and is well above the typical range of catch rates from similar lakes. Walleye captured had an average length of over 18 inches with fish just short of 30 inches measured in the survey. Black Crappie, Bluegill and Largemouth Bass are relatively new species in Lake Julia. It is unknown how they were introduced but were first recorded in the 2003 population assessment. All three species have been expanding ever since. The 2023 Black Crappie catch of only 4 fish total was well below expectations but they were all between 10 and 11 inches. Bluegill are now well established with a trap net catch rate of almost 12 fish per net and fish up to 9.5 inches in length were captured in the 2023 survey. Bluegill growth rates exceed those found in most other area lakes. The 2023 Northern Pike catch rate of 12 fish per net was on the upper end of the range of catch rates for similar lakes. Pike over 32 inches in length were captured in this assessment and nearly 20% exceeded the 22-26 inch protected slot that is part of the North-Central pike zone regulation. Yellow Perch are an important forage species for gamefish. Julia has been known as a good perch lake in the past, although abundance and maximum size of perch captured has declined over the past few assessments. Yellow Perch captured in 2023 had an average size of almost 7 inches with fish just under 9 inches in length measured in the survey. Other species captured in the 2023 survey included Brown Bullhead, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, and Rock Bass.

Lake Julia is a 511-acre lake, located 15 miles north of Bemidji in southern Beltrami County. A targeted survey was completed on Lake Julia by Bemidji Area Fisheries staff during July of 2023 to assess the nearshore fish community and overall health of the lake. In this survey, 14 nearshore sites (100-foot) were evenly spaced along the lakeshore to sample a variety of aquatic habitat types and collect a representative sample of the nearshore fish community. Depending on the habitat conditions at each site, backpack electrofishing, and shoreline seining were attempted where possible. A total of 11 sites were sampled with a seine, while backpack electrofishing was completed at all 14 sites. A total of 16 species were sampled, which included 5 species (Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass) that are intolerant to disturbance or poor water quality. Nearshore fish community data was analyzed with information collected from the standard survey in 2023 to calculate a Fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (FIBI) score to measure the biological condition and overall health of Lake Julia. In Minnesota, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and healthy habitat (e.g. Blacknose Shiner, Mimic Shiner, Tullibee (cisco), and Mottled Sculpin), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g. Black Bullhead, Fathead Minnow, and Green Sunfish). The combination of fish species present may identify stressors negatively affecting the lake environment. The FIBI score is composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics to indicate the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on FIBI search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website (www.mndnr.gov). In coordination with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Upper/Lower Red Lake Watershed assessment.

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

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

Julia has a maximum depth of 43 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Julia is from 2023.

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