Peterson

Cook County

Near Tofte

DOW: 16047800

Rock BassGood · 50Smallmouth BassAverage · 46Northern PikeAverage · 40

A 94-acre lake near Tofte in Cook County — best known for panfish and bass. Last surveyed 1997.

Fish Species (6)

Rock Bass

Good · 50

Average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1997

Last surveyed 1997 — treat with caution

Avg Size

7.0"

Avg Weight

0.26 lbs

Catch rate: 0.33 per gill net · typical 0.3–2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 26, 1997	0.33	7.0"	0.26 lbs	Standard gill nets

Smallmouth Bass

Average · 46

Average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1997

Last surveyed 1997 — treat with caution

Avg Size

10.5"

Avg Weight

0.78 lbs

Catch rate: 0.67 per gill net · typical 0.5–5.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 26, 1997	0.67	10.5"	0.78 lbs	Standard gill nets
Sep 11, 1991	1.33	-	0.62 lbs	Standard gill nets

Northern Pike

Average · 40

Below-normal numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1997

Last surveyed 1997 — treat with caution

Avg Size

18.5"

Avg Weight

1.73 lbs

Catch rate: 0.67 per gill net · typical 2–6.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 26, 1997	0.67	18.5"	1.73 lbs	Standard gill nets
Sep 11, 1991	0.33	-	1.50 lbs	Standard gill nets

Yellow Perch

Average · 28

Below-normal numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1997

Last surveyed 1997 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.3"

Avg Weight

0.10 lbs

Catch rate: 1.0 per gill net · typical 2.2–14.6 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 26, 1997	1.00	5.3"	0.10 lbs	Standard gill nets
Sep 11, 1991	2.33	-	0.39 lbs	Standard gill nets

Walleye

Average · 25

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1997

Last surveyed 1997 — treat with caution

Avg Size

12.0"

Avg Weight

0.79 lbs

Catch rate: 1.3 per gill net · typical 3–9.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 26, 1997	1.33	12.0"	0.79 lbs	Standard gill nets
Sep 11, 1991	3.00	-	0.75 lbs	Standard gill nets

Other species in this lake (1)

Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.

White Sucker

Good · 62

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1997

Last surveyed 1997 — treat with caution

Avg Size

17.2"

Avg Weight

2.25 lbs

Catch rate: 9.0 per gill net · typical 3.6–14.1 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 26, 1997	9.00	17.2"	2.25 lbs	Standard gill nets
Sep 11, 1991	11.67	-	1.82 lbs	Standard gill nets

Biologist Notes

August 26, 1997This fish population assessment of Peterson Lake collected five fish species. Most fish caught were white suckers. Game fish were not abundant or larg…

This fish population assessment of Peterson Lake collected five fish species. Most fish caught were white suckers. Game fish were not abundant or large, but all were naturally produced (not stocked). Walleye had last been stocked as fry 9-11 years earlier. Walleye growth rates were average. Other species collected were yellow perch, smallmouth bass, northern pike, and rock bass. Growth of yellow perch was somewhat slow, but growth of smallmouth bass and northern pike was average or better.

September 11, 1991WAE CPUE ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS LAKE. ALL THE WAE COLLECTED RANGED FROM 10 TO 14 IN. THREE YEAR CLASS WERE REPRESENTED IN THE SAMPLE, WITH THE STRONGE…

WAE CPUE ABOUT AVERAGE FOR THIS LAKE. ALL THE WAE COLLECTED RANGED FROM 10 TO 14 IN. THREE YEAR CLASS WERE REPRESENTED IN THE SAMPLE, WITH THE STRONGEST BEING 1988. GROWTH WAS ABOUT AVERAGE FOR COOK COUNTY. WAE STOCKING IN 1986-1988 PROBABLY CONTRIBUTED LITTLE TO THE PRESENT WAE POPULATION, EVEN THE TWO OF THE THREE YEAR CLASSES WERE YEARS WHEN STOCKING WAS DONE. WAE CATCH AND SIZE DISTRIBUTION IN THE 1991 ASSESSMENT WERE SIMILAR TO THOSE OBSERVED IN 1971 AND 1979, WHEN NO STOCKING HAD BEEN DONE. SMB WERE COLLECTED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THIS ASSESSMENT, BUT HAVE PROBABLY BEEN PRESENT IN SMALL NUMBERS FOR MANY YEARS. SMB ARE ABUNDANT UPSTREAM OF PETERSON LAKE IN OTHER LAKES OF THE TEMPERANCE RIVER SYSTEM. SOME OF THE YEP COLLECTED WERE LARGE ENOUGH TO BE OF SOME INTEREST TO ANGLERS. NOP CATCH WAS LOW.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Peterson?

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

Is there public access at Peterson?

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Peterson. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

How deep is Peterson?

Peterson has a maximum depth of 15 feet and a mean depth of 8.8 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Peterson last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Peterson is from 1997. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.