Child

Child Lake (DOW # 11-0263; Lake Class 31) is a 285-acre lake with 158 littoral acres, 4.56 miles of shoreline, and a maximum depth of 29 feet located near Hackensack, MN. There is a primitive, user-developed earthen access on state-owned land on the south shore off Cass County Highway 5. Child Lake is also accessible from Woman Lake through the Boy River. The Boy River connects Child Lake to Little Woman, Woman, and Girl lakes. There are no barriers to fish movement between Child, Little Woman, Woman, and Girl lakes. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has classified Minnesota lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Child Lake is in Lake Class 31; lakes in this class are generally clear and productive with moderate depth. Other Class 31 lakes in the Walker area include Little Webb (DOW# 11-0387), May (DOW# 11-0482), Ox Yoke (11-0355) and Welsh (DOW# 11-0493). The lake is primarily managed for Black Crappie, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch and secondarily for Muskellunge, Tullibee (Cisco) and Walleye. A 24 to 36 inch protected slot limit was implemented in 2003 to improve the size structure of the Northern Pike population. A standard survey conducted in the summer of 2024. Black Crappie were present in good numbers from the 2024 gill nets with fish from 5 to 12 inches present. Population goals are still being developed for Black Crappie in this lake. Bluegill were moderately abundant and ranged in length from 3 to 8 inches long. Population goals are still being developed for the Bluegill population in this lake. Low numbers of Largemouth Bass were sampled in this survey with fish from 11 to 17 inches. Management goals are based on spring electrofishing which was not conducted in 2024. Previous spring electrofishing surveys showed a moderately abundant Largemouth Bass population with fish over 16 inches long present in the lake. Northern Pike were moderately abundant. The Northern Pike gill net catch rate of eight fish per net was within the management goal of between five to 10 fish per net. Northern Pike averaged 19 inches long with fish up to 32 inches long in the sample. The proportion of Northern Pike greater than 24 inches long of 7% was below the management goal of 10% and the proportion of Northern Pike greater than 28 inches of 4% did not meet the management goal of 5%. Yellow Perch numbers have dropped from near 12 fish per gill net in 2008 to lower levels seen in recent surveys with three fish per gill net in 2024, which was below the management goal of five fish per net. Although none were sampled in 2024, Muskellunge could be encountered in Child Lake. Low numbers of Tullibee (Cisco) were sampled with fish from 15 to 19 inches present. Walleye are present in low numbers and were below management goals in 2024. Walleye gill net catch rates in Child Lake have never exceeded three fish per net and have not increased in response to Walleye fry stocking. Other species sampled were Bowfin (dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Currently the aquatic invasive species (AIS) that have been identified in Child Lake are the rusty crayfish and purple loosestrife. Zebra mussels, and Eurasian Watermilfoil are documented in downstream Woman and Girl Lake and could be spread throughout the Woman Lake chain. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Child Lake was conducted on August 10-12, 2021, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 10 sampling stations, but three stations were sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample four stations, a 15-foot seine was used to sample three stations, and site conditions prevented the use of a seine at three stations. Nearshore sampling captured 14 species of fish including four species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, and Rock Bass) and none that are tolerant of disturbance. A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by IBI Program staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured 10 species of fish, including one that is intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Rock Bass). Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Bowfin comprised a majority by biomass. The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from an August 2020 survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (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., 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. Results from this survey indicate that the fish community in Child Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Leech Lake River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

Child Lake is a 285-acre lake located 9 miles east of Hackensack, MN. The lake has 4.56 miles of shoreline with a maximum depth of 29 feet. There is a primitive, user-developed earthen access on state-owned land on the south shore off Cass County Highway 5. Child Lake is also accessible from Woman Lake through the Boy River. The Boy River connects Child Lake to Little Woman, Woman, and Girl lakes. There are no barriers to fish movement between Child, Little Woman, Woman, and Girl lakes. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has classified Minnesota lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Child Lake is in Lake Class 31; lakes in this class are generally clear and productive with moderate depth. Other Class 31 lakes in the Walker area include Little Webb (DOW# 11-0387), May (DOW# 11-0482), Ox Yoke (11-0355) and Welsh (DOW# 11-0493). The lake is primarily managed for Black Crappie, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch and secondarily for Muskellunge, Cisco (Tullibee) and Walleye. A 24 to 36 inch protected slot limit was implemented in 2003 to improve the size structure of the Northern Pike population. The purpose of this survey was to evaluate Walleye fry stocking and the status of Northern Pike, Walleye, and Yellow Perch populations using gill nets only. Northern Pike were moderately abundant. The Northern Pike gill net catch rate of 7.7 fish per net was within the management goal of between 5 and 10 fish per net. Northern Pike averaged 18 inches long with fish up to 32 inches long in the sample. The proportion of Northern Pike greater than 24 inches long of seven percent was below the management goal of ten percent. Walleye are present in low numbers and an angler may catch one on occasion. The Walleye gill net catch rate of 1.5 fish per net was below the management goal of four fish per gill net. Walleye gill net catch rates in Child Lake have never exceeded three fish per net and have not increased in response to Walleye fry stocking. Yellow Perch numbers have dropped from near 12 fish per gill net in 2008 to a historic low of one fish per gill net in 2020, which was below the management goal of five fish per net. Child Lake is best known for Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Largemouth Bass. Small Black Crappie were present in good numbers from the 2020 gill nets. In two to three years these fish will reach 10 inches in length and provide good angling opportunities. Though gill nets are not the preferred gear to sample Bluegill, fish over 7 inches long and up to 9 inches were present. Only a few Largemouth Bass were sampled and were small averaging 12 inches long. Previous spring electrofishing surveys showed a moderately abundant Largemouth Bass population with fish over 16 inches long present in the lake. On occasion, Muskellunge up to or exceeding 50 inches in length could be encountered. Other species sampled were Bowfin (dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Tullibee (Cisco), White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Currently the aquatic invasive species (AIS) that have been identified in Child Lake are the rusty crayfish and purple loosestrife. Curly Leaf Pondweed and Eurasian Watermilfoil are documented in Girl Lake and likely present throughout the Woman Lake chain. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office.

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

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Child. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Child has a maximum depth of 29 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Child is from 2024.

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