Ward

Northern pike were very abundant in 2015, but also very small, with no fish larger than 20 inches taken. Both results were typical for this lake, which has long been known to support high numbers of small fish. The small size of the northern pike in Ward Lake was due mainly to their slow growth rates. Fish as old as five years were taken, which in most lakes would result in fish up to 25 inches being caught. However, in this lake northern pike reached an average length of just 16.6 inches by the end of their fourth year. Forage for northern pike was limited to small numbers of small white sucker and minnows. Some of the northern pike taken in this survey had been feeding only on snails and leeches. White sucker were introduced in this lake in 2000 to provide better forage for northern pike and improve their growth rates. Surveys to date provide no evidence for improved growth; growth rates measured in this survey were the slowest seen to date in this lake. The survey did provide our first clear evidence that a self-sustained white sucker population has become established, with juvenile and young-of-year fish taken. Although white sucker numbers remain low, they may increase (and provide better forage) if reproduction takes off. Sampling with 0.25-in-mesh trap nets during this survey collected small numbers of brook stickleback, finescale dace, and fathead minnows, in addition to northern pike and white sucker. The catch also included fairly high numbers of eastern newts.

Northern pike were abundant, but small, in Ward Lake in 2010, as has been the case in this lake in every past assessment. An effort to improve northern pike growth (and therefore average size) by introducing white sucker as a forage species seems to have failed. Although a small white sucker population may have been established, production of juvenile fish suitable for northern pike forage seems to have been limited. There has been no change in northern pike growth rates. Three-year-old northern pike collected in 2010 averaged 16.2 inches in length at the end of their third year. No juvenile white sucker have been collected in Ward Lake since the species was introduced. The only evidence for limited reproduction is a decrease in the mean length of white sucker collected in assessments, which would seem to counter the possibility that all white sucker in the lake are survivors of the 2000 stocking. Mean lengths for white sucker collected in gill nets and trap nets in 2003, 2006, and 2010 were 19.3, 18.5, and 18.2 in, respectively. All white sucker collected in 2010 appeared to have been adult fish. Sampling of the nearshore fish community was done using quarter-in-mesh trap nets, a 15-ft beach seine, backpack electrofishing gear, and quarter-inch-mesh wire minnow traps. Of those gears, quarter-in trap nets, seining, and electrofishing were equally effective, in terms of the number of species sampled (two), while minnow traps were least effective (collected just one species). Prior to sampling done in 2010, Ward Lake was known to support northern pike, white sucker, northern redbelly dace, finescale dace, fathead minnow, and brook stickleback. Nearshore sampling in 2010 added no species to that list, and failed to sample several species that had been taken in quarter-inch-mesh trap nets in 2003.

Northern pike have consistently been abundant but small in this lake, and remained so in 2006. Forage is provided by minnows, invertebrates, and young pike, and is adequate to support growth rates through age 4 that are average for this lake class. White sucker were introduced in 2000 to provide additional forage, but do not appear to have reproduced.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike in Ward. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Ward has a maximum depth of 13 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Ward is from 2015. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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