Middle Sucker

Middle Sucker Lake (DOW#11-0317, Lake Class 34) is a 286-acre lake with 150 littoral acres, 3.2 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 20 feet. Middle Sucker Lake is located nine miles southeast of Cass Lake, MN. There is a US Forest Service owned earthen access on the channel between Middle Sucker and Upper Sucker lakes. The access is suitable for small boats, canoes, and kayaks due to the shallow water and limited maneuvering area at the launch. Parking space is also limited. The DNR has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical and other characteristics. Middle Sucker Lake is in Lake Class 34; lakes in the class are turbid, shallow, and regularly shaped lakes. Other Walker Area Lake Class 34 lakes include Lind and Rice. The entire shoreline of Middle Sucker Lake is undeveloped and publicly owned by the US Forest Service and the State of Minnesota. The lake is primarily managed for Black Crappie, Northern Pike and Yellow Perch and secondarily for Bluegill. Special Regulations on the Sucker chain of lakes include 5 fish daily limits for Sunfish and Black Crappie; statewide possession limits of 20 and 10, respectively, remain in place. The regulations are intended to maintain the existing size quality and more information can be found at (Quality Sunfish Initiative). Middle Sucker Lake is a good multi-species lake, particularly for panfish and bass. Black Crappie abundance was below the management goal but fish from 5 to 11 inches were sampled. Northern Pike are abundant and numbers were well above the management goal, with pike lengths ranging from 10 to 30 inches. Yellow Perch numbers were also well above the management goal and very high compared to similar lakes, with fish up to 10 inches long present. Bluegill abundance was below the management goal but fish up to 10 inches were sampled. Middle and Upper Sucker lakes are known to occasionally winterkill and are replenished naturally from their connection with Lower Sucker Lake. Other fish species that anglers can expect to encounter include, Bowfin (Dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed and White Sucker. 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, no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Middle Sucker Lake. 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.

Middle Sucker Lake is a 286-acre lake located approximately nine miles ESE of Cass Lake, Minnesota, that has 3.13 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 20 feet. There is a US Forest Service owned earthen access on the channel between Middle Sucker and Upper Sucker lakes. The access is suitable for small boats, canoes, and kayaks due to the shallow water and limited maneuvering area at the launch. Parking space is also limited. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has classified Minnesota lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Middle Sucker Lake is in Lake Class 34; lakes in the class are turbid, shallow, and regularly shaped lakes. Other Walker Area Lake Class 34 lakes include Lind (DOW# 11-0367) and Rice (DOW# 11-0367). The entire shoreline of Middle Sucker Lake is undeveloped and publicly owned by the US Forest Service and the State of Minnesota. Middle Sucker Lake offers a near wilderness setting. Historically, partial winterkills have occurred on Sucker Lake. Fish populations recover to healthy levels naturally during extended periods when winterkills do not occur. Angling for Northern Pike, Bluegill, and Black Crappie can be quite productive on Middle Sucker Lake. Black Crappie catch rates were down from 2011, but the average length of fish sampled increased from 9 inches in 2011 to 10 inches in 2016. Northern Pike were abundant with an average length of 21 inches with fish up to 34 inches long in the sample. The average length of Bluegill was 8 inches and 70 percent of the sample were 8 inches or greater in length. Other fish species that are available to anglers are Bowfin (Dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, 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 no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Middle Sucker Lake. 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.

Middle Sucker Lake is a 200-acre lake located approximately nine miles ESE of Cass Lake, Minnesota, that has 3.13 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 20 feet. There is a US Forest Service owned earthen access on the channel between Middle Sucker and Upper Sucker lakes. The access is suitable for small boats, canoes, and kayaks due to the shallow water and limited maneuvering area at the launch. Parking space is also limited. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has classified Minnesota lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Middle Sucker Lake is in Lake Class 34; lakes in the class are turbid, shallow, and regularly shaped lakes. Other Walker Area Lake Class 34 lakes include Lind (DOW# 11-0367) and Rice (DOW# 11-0367). The entire shoreline of Middle Sucker Lake is undeveloped and publicly owned by the US Forest Service and the State of Minnesota. Middle Sucker Lake offers a near wilderness setting. Historically, partial winterkills have occurred on Sucker Lake. Fish populations recover to healthy levels naturally during extended periods during which winterkills do not occur due in large part to the connectedness of all three lakes. No aquatic invasive species have been documented in Middle Sucker Lake. Angling for northern pike, bluegill, and black crappie can be quite productive on Middle Sucker Lake. Numbers and sizes preferred by anglers of all three species have increased since the 2000 assessment, which bodes well for angling opportunities. Northern pike were abundant, averaging 22 inches long with fish up to 32 inches long also sampled. Bluegill catch, when compared to the 2005 results, was down slightly in the trap nets, but the gill net catch was much higher. The average length of bluegills was 7 inches and 12 percent were 8 inches or greater in length. Black crappies averaged 9 inches in length with 40 percent 10 inches or greater in length. Other fish species that are available to anglers are bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, white sucker, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Selective harvest by anglers (harvest of smaller to medium-sized fish) promotes balanced fish communities and sustainable fishing quality. Removal of shoreline vegetation on private lake lots and mowing grass to the water's edge can reduce water quality, which in turn can adversely affect fish populations. Similarly, removal of woody debris and aquatic plants from near-shore areas reduces critical habitat needed to support quality fish populations. Finally, aquatic invasive species (AIS) can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. These species are primarily moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake-shore owners. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users should inspect and remove any aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat away 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/).

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

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

Middle Sucker has a maximum depth of 20 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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