Tilde

Tilde Lake is a 259-acre, class 43 lake in northeastern Clay County, approximately five miles northeast of Hitterdal. The maximum depth is 13 feet and the lake experiences occasional winterkill. The lake's shoreline is undeveloped except for a single farmstead near the southeast shore. The surrounding watershed is primarily agricultural (small grain croplands) although there is a fringe of hardwoods and wild grasslands around much of the lake. While the vegetative fringe probably helps to buffer the lake from field runoff, there are at least three intermittently flowing ditches draining surrounding farmland into the lake. Algal blooms are common during summer and Walleyes in this lake are reported by some to have an undesirable flavor when the water warms. A standard survey was completed on Tilde Lake in August 2025 to assess the fish community using two gill nets and nine trap nets. Tilde Lake frequently experiences significant winterkills with the most recent likely occurring during the winter of 2022-2023. Walleye fry were stocked in the spring of 2023 and 2024 to replenish the population, which proved to be successful. The gill net catch rate for Walleye was 61 fish per net in 2025. The historical average Walleye gill net catch rate prior to this survey was 46 fish per net. Walleye averaged 16.5 inches in length with the largest fish captured measuring 21.3 inches. The Northern Pike catch rate was 11 fish per net and 41% of fish captured were greater than 24 inches. Gill nets captured Northern Pike ranging in total length from 14 to 30 inches and averaged 20.5 inches. Other fish captured were Rock Bass and White Sucker.

In August, 2020, a targeted survey was completed on Tilde Lake to assess status of a previously detected aquatic invasive species (Red Swamp Crayfish), and also to determine the effects of recent harsh winter conditions. Red Swamp Crayfish were discovered in Tilde Lake in 2016 during a standard assessment. No other reports of Red Swam Crayfish have been recorded within Minnesota, and the source of introduction is unknown. During the 2020 assessment, six baited cylinder traps were used to target crayfish, along with five small, nonstandard trap nets and one gill net. Baited cylinder traps captured Fathead Minnows and Brook Stickleback. The small trap nets had similar catches, and also sampled Central Mudminnow, White Sucker, and Northern Pike. The gill net caught two species - White Sucker and Northern Pike. No Red Swamp Crayfish were sampled through this assessment. The low catch rate and low species diversity sampled indicate that Tilde Lake was impacted by winterkill at some point over the past few winters. Periodic assessments will continue to assess the condition of Tilde Lake and the presence of Red Swamp Crayfish.

Tilde Lake is a 259-acre, class 43 lake in northeastern Clay County, approximately five miles northeast of Hitterdal. The maximum depth is 13 feet and the lake experiences occasional winterkill. The lake's shoreline is undeveloped except for a single farmstead near the southeast shore. The surrounding watershed is primarily agricultural (small grain croplands) although there is a fringe of hardwoods and wild grasslands around much of the lake. While the vegetative fringe probably helps to buffer the lake from field runoff, there are at least three intermittently flowing ditches draining surrounding farmland into the lake. Based on a total phosphorus concentration of 179 ppb in 2005, Tilde Lake could be considered hyper-eutrophic. However, two other indicators of trophic state (water clarity and chlorophyll-a) were more indicative of late mesotrophy or early eutrophy. Algal blooms are common during summer and Walleyes in this lake are reported by some to have an undesirable flavor when the water warms. Tilde Lake experienced a significant winterkill during the winter of 2012-2013. The highest dissolved oxygen reading found on April 3rd of that year was 0.3 ppm. No test netting was done to confirm the extent of the winterkill, but a near total kill was assumed due to the low amount of oxygen and prolonged ice cover. Walleye fry were stocked the following spring with the intentions of not only restoring the Walleye fishery, but also provide a unique opportunity to harvest Walleye fingerlings to transferring to other local fishing lakes. This strategy proved successful as 858 pounds, or 25,740 fish, of Walleye fingerlings were harvested from Tilde Lake in the fall of 2013. Walleye fry were again stocked in 2014, but this time the stocking did not result in an abundance of young fish that could be utilized for harvest. Walleye fry stocking resumed to the normal every other year stocking rotation in 2016. Despite the lakes history of winterkill and questionable water quality, Tilde Lake does appear to contain some good walleye-spawning habitat as the most abundant year class found in the 2005 population assessment was attributed to a non-stocking year (2003). The scheduled standard survey of Tilde Lake was abbreviated due extreme catches of young of year Walleye. Only two gill nets and six trap nets were fished during the survey in 2016. The gill net catch rate for Walleye was an astonishing 199.5 fish per net. The historical average Walleye gill net catch rate prior to this survey was 19.6 fish per net. As mentioned, the vast majority of sampled Walleyes were from the spring fry stocking just a few months prior. These young of year fish grew fast despite their abundance, averaging 7.6 inches in length. The dominance of these fish also skew any further value in size-based indices for the Walleye population as a whole. The remaining sampled Walleye originated from the previous two fry stocking events following the winterkill in 2013. These two- and three-year-old Walleyes were 14 to 18 inches long. Other species sampled in low numbers included Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rock Bass and Yellow Perch. In most of these instances it appeared only a single year class of adults were captured of each specie. This would suggest a private stocking event had occurred following the winterkill. Black Bullhead were historically common and a recent presence of Common Carp had become established in Tilde Lake. However, since none of these species were sampled in Tilde Lake in 2016 it can be assumed the winterkill experienced in 2013 was sever enough to even eliminate these tolerant species.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Yellow Perch in Tilde. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Tilde has a maximum depth of 13 feet and a mean depth of 9 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

Yes — Tilde has confirmed red swamp crayfish. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.