Minnow

Minnow Lake is a 110-acre, moderately developed lake located west of Bagley in central Clearwater County. Minnow Lake has a water clarity of 8 feet and a maximum depth of 24 feet. Emergent vegetation is abundant along the shoreline of this productive lake. Minnow Lake is known to occasionally winterkill due to its shallow basin and abundant aquatic vegetation. The fish community is dependent on the frequency of the winterkill events. The fish community typically consists of species (Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and Bullhead species) tolerant to low oxygen conditions. If a winterkill event is confirmed, adult Black Crappie, Bluegill, and/or Largemouth Bass are stocked to re-establish the populations. If winterkill events are infrequent or less severe, these species can grow fast, become more abundant, and provide good fishing opportunities for anglers. The state-owned public access is located within a Wildlife Management Area (WMA) on the northeastern shore and has parking for 3 vehicles and trailers. A standard survey was completed on Minnow Lake in 2024 to assess the fish community. Gamefish species targeted by anglers in this lake include Bluegill, Black Crappie, Northern Pike, Walleye, and Yellow Perch. A total of 10 Black Crappie were captured and ranged from 4 to 11 inches. Ninety-one adult Black Crappie were stocked in 2023 to re-establish the population following the severe winters of 2022 and 2023. The presence of adult Black Crappie in the survey indicate that fish survived the initial stocking and are providing a brood source for the population. Northern Pike are abundant and above the typical range for similar lakes in Minnesota. Northern Pike ranged from 10 to 25 inches and averaged 19 inches. Only seven percent of the Northern Pike captured were within the 22 to 26 inch protected slot. This gives anglers a great opportunity to catch harvestable sized fish below the slot. Yellow Perch abundance increased from 2014 and were above the historical average for the lake. Yellow Perch ranged from 4 to 11 inches and averaged 7 inches. Yellow Perch are an important forage species for large predators like Walleye, Northern Pike, and Largemouth Bass. No Bluegill were captured and catch rates of Largemouth Bass and Walleye were very low, likely due to severe winter conditions in 2022 and 2023. Other species sampled during the survey included Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, and Golden Shiner. Currently, Minnow Lake is not infested with any aquatic invasive species (AIS). AIS can be transferred by anglers and boats from infested to non-infested waterbodies. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. Please follow the current AIS regulations to avoid spreading to other lakes.

Minnow Lake is located just north of State Highway 2 and just west of the city of Bagley in Clearwater County. It is an occasional winter kill lake, with a shallow basin, small surface area and lots of aquatic vegetation. The size and numbers of fish found in Minnow Lake are determined by the frequency and severity of winter kill events. The fish community of Minnow Lake can also be dominated by species that are more tolerant of low oxygen conditions and that can recolonize the lake through its connection to the Clearwater River. These include Northern pike, Yellow perch, and Bullhead species. The management plan for Minnow Lake includes re-stocking the lake with adult Bluegill, Black Crappie, and Largemouth Bass after confirmed winter kill events. When winter kill events occur less frequently, these species can become established, grow fairly quickly and provide good fishing opportunities until the next winter kill occurs. The last stocking of these species occurred in 2007. The 2014 fish population assessment of Minnow Lake found Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Northern Pike in good numbers, but Largemouth Bass, which have been present in past assessments, were not captured in 2014. Walleye have been nearly absent in the past two assessments despite regular fry stocking. The catch rates for both Black Crappie and Bluegill were similar to average catch rates in other similar lakes. Black Crappie up to 12.05 inches in length were captured, with an average size of 10.34 inches. A total of 7 year classes of Black Crappie were identified, which indicates that the fish are reproducing successfully. Black Crappie currently provide the most notable fishing opportunity in Minnow Lake. Bluegill captured in the 2014 assessment had an average length of just 5.12 inches with some fish up to 7.7 inches in length present. Northern pike catch rates were much higher than average for similar lakes but fish captured had a small average size (20.39 inches in length and 1.9 lbs/fish). The largest Northern Pike captured in the 2014 assessment was 35.98 inches in length. Other species captured in the 2014 assessment were Yellow Perch and Yellow Bullhead.

Minnow Lake is three miles west of Bagley in west-central Clearwater County. The state-owned public access is located on the northeast corner of the lake and consists of an earthen boat ramp with a gravel parking area. To get there, follow Clearwater County 45 two and one-half miles west from Bagley, then south one-half mile. Minnow Lake is a 102 acre lake with a maximum depth of 24 feet and a moderately developed shoreline. It is an occasional winterkill lake, characterized by a shallow basin, large amount of littoral (shallow water) area, and a fish community usually dominated by species more tolerant to low oxygen conditions such as northern pike, yellow perch, and bullheads. It is managed primarily for walleye and yellow perch and secondarily for black crappie and bluegill. Minnow Lake has a long history of low dissolved oxygen levels during the winter months. Because of this, walleye fry stocking success has been variable. The highest walleye abundance on record occurred in 1983 and was likely the result of stocking into a void created by a substantial winterkill event. Conversely, there were no walleye captured in either the 1990 or 2009 assessments, while the 1999 assessment yielded walleye very close to the management goal. Recent walleye fry stockings have not been very effective, most likely due to a lack of winterkills. Northern pike were extirpated from Minnow Lake in the late 1970s during a series of severe winterkill events, and were absent from the fish community until the mid-1990s. By 2009, northern pike had become abundant and size structure of the population was good. A typical Minnow Lake northern pike is about 23 inches long, and it reaches that size sometime during its fourth growing season. Pike grow very fast in Minnow Lake, possibly due to their previous absence and subsequent reestablishment. Species composition of Minnow Lake appears to have shifted due to a reduced frequency of winterkill events. Prior to 2009, black crappie were captured in low numbers. However, in 2009, black crappie abundance was high, although size structure of the population indicated many small fish, and growth rates are slow. The bluegill population appears to recover from winterkill events more slowly. In 2009, bluegill abundance was low and average size was small. Abundance and quality were considerably better in 1990; it is likely that some degree of winterkill that occurred after 1990 decimated the bluegill population. In Minnow Lake, yellow perch abundance fluctuates considerably. In 2009, they were fairly abundant. Ten percent of perch captured in 2009 were greater than nine inches in length. The most dramatic fish community shift that has occurred recently is in the bullhead community. Overall bullhead abundance has declined considerably since 1999, and species composition seems to have shifted from primarily black and brown bullhead to mostly yellow bullhead. This is generally considered to be a positive indicator for water quality and the fish community as a whole.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, Pumpkinseed, Largemouth Bass, and Walleye in Minnow. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Minnow has a maximum depth of 24 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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