Holly

Holly is 75-acre lake located about 11 miles north of Lutsen. Public access is through a boat landing on the southeast bay of the lake. Holly has historically been managed for walleye with supplemental stocking since the 1970s. Walleye stocking was discontinued in 2018 after survey results showed a healthy naturally reproducing population. Primary and secondary management species are walleye and northern pike. The 2023 standard survey of Holly Lake was conducted to evaluate the walleye and northern pike populations in the lake. Walleye catch rates in both gill nets and trap nets are above average when compared to similar lakes in the area, and slightly higher than in the last two surveys for Holly Lake. Size structure of the walleye captured ranged from 3.2 to 23.7 inches with a mean of around 14.6 inches. Both the abundance and size goals for walleye were met in the 2023 survey. Aging results indicated the presence of 8 year classes with 6 of them appearing to be naturally reproduced. The oldest individual sampled was 12 years old. Evidence of continued naturally reproduction is a good sign for the walleye population in Holly Lake. Growth appeared to be slightly above average for area lakes. The catch of northern pike in the gill nets and standard trap nets are above average when compared to similar lakes in the area, and comparable to the previous two surveys in Holly Lake. Size structure of the northern pike captured ranged from 10.9 to 30.9 inches with a mean length of 22.9 inches. Both the abundance and size goals for northern pike were met in this survey. Anglers looking to target northern pike may find good action with the presence of some larger individuals. Yellow perch abundance was higher than the previous survey but still lower than historical values in Holly Lake. Even with the thriving walleye and northern pike populations, the yellow perch catch is above average for similar area lakes. Yellow perch ranged from 5.4 inches to 10.9 inches with a mean length of 6.3 inches. The prevalence and size of yellow perch in Holly Lake not only make great forage for piscivores predator populations but may also be of interest to anglers. White sucker abundance was higher than previous two surveys but remains similar to historical values recorded. Pumpkinseed and golden shiner were additional species captured in the 0.25-inch trap nets in smaller numbers. Cook County, Minnesota lakes continue to be susceptible to aquatic invasive species introductions. Invasive species have the potential to significantly alter fish communities and overall lake health. Anglers should clean watercraft and fishing gear, drain all water, and dispose of unused bait in the trash to prevent accidental introductions.

Holly Lake is currently managed for Walleye and Northern Pike. The long range goal for Walleye (from the 2013 lake management plan) is a minimum gill net catch of 4.0 fish/set, with some fish over 20 inches present. The goal for Northern Pike is a minimum gill net catch of 6.0 fish/set, with some fish over 25 inches present. This was the second of two standard surveys scheduled in the 2013 plan to determine whether Walleye stocking in this lake was still needed or desirable, and whether stocking would be required to restore the Northern Pike population. Results of both surveys will be considered when the lake management plan is revised in February 2020. Results of the 2015 survey suggested Walleye stocking in Holly Lake since 2009 had been ineffective; however, the low number of gill net sets used in this lake made it impossible to make that determination on the basis of a single survey. The 2018 survey reinforced those results, providing strong evidence that most of the Walleye in this lake have been produced naturally, and not by stocking. Walleye were fairly abundant in Holly Lake in 2018, and although no large fish were seen, plenty of 16-20-inch fish were present. The 2018 Walleye gill net catch met the goal from the 2013 plan, and the capture of two fish larger than 20 inches meant the size goal from that plan was met as well. Year classes that may have been affected by stocking (2009, 2012, and 2015) accounted for just three of the 32 Walleye captured in standard gill nets and trap nets. It appeared that relatively strong natural year classes may have been produced in 2010 and 2013. A strong catch of young-of-year (YOY) Walleye in 0.25-in-mesh trap nets indicated that another strong natural year class in 2018 was at least a possibility. Walleye growth had been about average for the area; fish reached a mean length of 15.9 inches at the end of their fifth year, equaling the area mean. Northern Pike were fairly abundant in Holly Lake in 2018, although most were small (under 22 inches in length). After three surveys between 1999 and 2007 with low (or zero) Northern Pike gill net catches, the appears to have rebounded. The long range catch goal from the 2013 plan was met in 2018, and the size goal was also achieved. It was clear that stocking of Northern Pike would not be needed. Only four year classes contributed to the 2018 catch, with no fish older than four years collected. Good growth rates, rather than longevity, allowed a few fish to reach 25 inches in length. With apparent increases in Walleye and Northern Pike numbers seen in 2018, it was not surprising to see a drop in the Yellow Perch gill net catch. However, the catch remained within the normal range for a lake of this class, and enough were present to provide a strong forage base. Although most of the Yellow Perch taken in 2018 were small, a few reached sizes that would have been of some interest to anglers. Pumpkinseed Sunfish were present in fair numbers in 2018, but all were too small to have been of much interest to anglers. Bluegill have been found on rare occasions in this lake in the past, and a few were probably still present in 2018, despite their absence from the survey catch.

Holly Lake is currently managed for walleye and northern pike. The long range goal for walleye (from the 2013 lake management plan) is a minimum gill net catch of 4.0 fish/set, with some fish over 20 inches present. The goal for northern pike is a minimum gill net catch of 6.0 fish/set, with some fish over 25 inches present. This was the first of two standard surveys scheduled in the 2013 plan to determine whether walleye stocking in this lake is needed or desirable, and whether stocking would be required to restore the northern pike population. The second survey will be done in 2018. Fair numbers of walleye were taken in the 2015 survey. Although the catch fell short of the long range goal for the lake, the size goal was met by the presence of a few fish over 20 inches in length. Most of the walleye taken appeared to have been produced naturally; of the years in which stocking was done, only 2009 appeared to have contributed a few fish to the catch. Sampling with small-mesh trap nets, done as part of this survey, indicated another natural year class was produced in 2015. Walleye growth rates had been about average for the area, with fish reaching a mean length of 15.4 inches by the end of their fifth year. After three surveys between 1999 and 2007 with low (or zero) northern pike gill net catches, the catch rebounded in 2015. The long range catch goal from the 2013 plan was nearly met, and the size goal was achieved. It was clear that stocking of northern pike would not be needed. Only four year classes contributed to the 2015 catch, and although no fish older than four years were collected, good growth rates resulted in a few fish exceeding 25 inches in length. Despite an apparent resurgence in northern pike abundance, the yellow perch gill net catch remained high in 2015. Although yellow perch provided an excellent forage base for walleye and northern pike, most were too small to have been of much interest to anglers. The pumpkinseed sunfish catch in 0.75-in-mesh trap nets was lower than catches observed in 2003 and 2007, both of which had been above normal for a lake of this type. With abundance apparently down, and the small size of the fish that were collected, Holly Lake offered only very limited panfishing opportunities in 2015. Bluegill have been found on rare occasions in this lake in the past, and a few were probably still present in 2015, despite their absence from the survey catch. The 2015 white sucker gill net catch was the lowest ever seen in this lake, but remained within the normal range for a lake of this type. Many of the white sucker collected were small enough to have provided forage for the larger northern pike seen.

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

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

Holly has a maximum depth of 6 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Holly is from 2023.

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