Double

Double Lake is a 246-acre lake located near Storden in Cottonwood County. The lake consists of two separate basins connected by a six-foot diameter culvert. This culvert is the only boat access for the general public available to enter the South basin. The South basin does provide a handicapped accessible fishing pier located along county highway 53. Water levels were low in 2023, which allowed the survey crew to pass through the culvert into the south basin of Double Lake to set nets. Double Lake has a maximum depth of nine feet, a shoreline length of 3.8 miles. While winter aeration is operated by Red Rock Sportsmen's Club in both basins, partial winterkills have still occurred during some winters. These partial winterkills haven't affected the highly diverse fish community. Species diversity is usually high likely due to a direct connection to the Cottonwood River via Highwater Creek. Double Lake is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for crappie, Yellow Perch, and Northern Pike. A population assessment was conducted during the week of June 26, 2023, using 3 gill nets and 9 trap nets in North and South Double Lakes. The 2023 Walleye catch rate at Double Lake was 7.7 per gill net, which is within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes but down from the 2019 catch of 13.0 per gill net. Historically, the catch rate has averaged 9.9 per gill net since 1986. Several year classes of Walleye were present (2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022), with age-4 (2019) being the most common, comprising 33 percent of the aged Walleye. Lengths of Walleye ranged from 8.0 to 27.7 inches and averaged 18.6 inches. Despite the "lower than normal" catch rate good Walleye bites have been reported on Double Lake by anglers. Since 1986, Yellow Perch catch rates at Double Lake have averaged 7.0 per gill net and have ranged from 0.3 per gill net in 2007 to 25.0 per gill net in 2015. In 2023, the gill net catch rate was 0.7 per gill net, below the long-term average and lower than the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (2.7 to 25.0 per gill net). Yellow perch lengths were 5.4 and 9.5 inches. Back in the late 1990's and early 2000's, Double Lake consistently had abundant Black Crappie populations; however, since 2011, catches have been below 4.2 per trap net. The trend continued in 2023 with a Black Crappie catch rate of 0.6 per trap net. Lengths of Black Crappie ranged from 4.4 to 13.5 inches and averaged 9.3 inches. While it appears that there are at least four year-classes present, abundance of Black Crappie remained low. Northern Pike abundance in Double Lake has been highly variable, ranging from 0.0 per gill net in multiple years to 6.7 per gill net in 2003. The catch rate in 2023 was 1.0 per gill net which is near the long-term average of 1.1 per gill net since 1986 but is not in the expected range of catches for similar lakes (1.1 to 8.0 per gill net). Lengths of Northern Pike ranged from 19.5 to 30.3 inches and averaged 25.3 inches. Double Lake is within the "southern zone" of the Northern Pike zone regulations, so two Pike longer than 24 inches can be harvested. Northern Pike under 24 inches must be released. The 2023 Black Bullhead catch rate was 50.0 per gill net, slightly above the long-term average of 29.6 per gill net and within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (30.3 to 150.6 per gill net). Lengths of Black Bullhead ranged from 6.6 to 12.4 inches and averaged 8.5 inches. Other species sampled included Bigmouth Buffalo, Bluegill, Common Carp, Freshwater Drum, River Redhorse, Yellow Bullhead, and White Sucker.

Double is a 246 acre lake located near Storden in Cottonwood County. The lake consists of two separate basins connected by a six foot diameter culvert under county highway 53. This culvert is the only boat access available to enter the South basin. The South basin does provide a handicapped accessible fishing pier located along county highway 53. Due to high water levels in 2018 and 2019 DNR fisheries crews were unable to enter the South portion of the lake to set nets and assess the fish community. Double Lake has a maximum depth of nine feet, a shoreline length of 3.8 miles. While winter aeration is operated by the Redrock Sportsmen's Club in both basins, partial winterkills have occurred. These partial winterkills haven't affected the highly diverse fish community. Fourteen species of fish sampled are likely due to a direct connection to the Cottonwood River via Highwater Creek where fish can come and go when water levels are high. Double Lake is managed for Walleye, crappie, Yellow Perch, and Northern Pike. A population assessment was conducted during the week of June 10, 2019 using 2 gill nets and 5 trap nets in the North basin. WALLEYE Forty-four Walleye were caught in 2 gill nets and 5 trap nets. The gill net catch rate of 13.0 per net was within the expected range of 2.3 to 18.0 and above the long-term average of 10.2 per net. The trap net catch rate of 3.6 per net was above the expected value of 2.3 per net and above the long-term average of 2.1 per net. Gill nets are more likely to represent the true picture of the Walleye population than trap nets because they catch better in the summer. Walleye in the gill net sample ranged in length from 8.5 to 26.8 inches with an average length of 15.1 inches. Five year classes of Walleye were present in the sample (2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, and 2011) with the 2016 (age-3) and 2017 (age-2) year classes making up 73% of the aged fish sample combined. The Walleye in the gill nets and trap nets were in fair condition. Interestingly, it appeared that the condition of the young fish lagged behind the condition of the older fish. This may indicate some stress on younger fish to find enough food to maintain good weights. Overall, the Walleye population is doing well, even if some stress was apparent in the younger fish. Typically, Walleye populations when abundant, will experience some stress that helps to balance the population in the long-term. The good news is that a hungry Walleye population is a good population to fish and may provide faster than typical action. CRAPPIE There are 2 species of crappie in Double Lake, Black Crappie and White Crappie. Black Crappie have 7-8 anal spines and White Crappie have 5-6 anal spines. Twenty-four Black Crappie and 9 White Crappie were sampled in the gill nets and trap nets. White Crappie were captured in trap nets at a rate of 1.6 per net and were captured at a rate of 0.5 per net in gill nets. Black Crappie were captured in trap nets at a rate of 4.2 per net and were captured at a rate of 1.5 per net in gill nets. Both species of crappie were captured within their normal range values in trap nets and gill nets. White Crappie ranged in length from just over 5.5 inches to just under 14 inches in trap nets with an average length of just over 10.5 inches! Black Crappie ranged in length from 7.5 to 12.5 inches in trap nets with an average length of over 10 inches! Both crappie species were healthy. The crappie populations appear to be doing well, and were found within expected ranges for Double Lake. Some large crappie could be caught on Double Lake, give it a try! YELLOW PERCH Eight Yellow Perch were sampled in gill nets and trap nets. The gill net catch rate was 2.5 per net and the trap net catch rate was 0.6 per net. Both gill net and trap net catch rates were at or within the interquartile range for Double Lake. It is not uncommon to have fewer Yellow Perch in the fish community when Walleye numbers are higher. Yellow Perch ranged in length from just over 6.5 inches to just over 8.5 inches. Two age groups of Yellow Perch were present in the sample. Body condition of the Yellow Perch was good. The Yellow Perch population appears to be doing well, adults are present in the lake so future spawning potential exists to boost the population. NORTHERN PIKE Only 2 Northern Pike were sampled in Double Lake. The Northern Pike were 22.7 inches and 26.3 inches. Those fish indicate an adult population is currently established in the lake. Double Lake is stocked with adult Northern Pike when they are available as winter rescue from Rice Lake near Aitkin or when the local sports club buys and stocks fish with a permit. Two hundred and forty winter rescue adult Northern Pike were stocked from Rice Lake in 2016 and 50 adult were stocked by the local Red Rock Sports Club in 2012 with a permit. It may be beneficial to stock adult fish again in the near future to boost the population. Additionally, fingerling Northern Pike will be stocked in 2021 from DNR production ponds. Angling for Northern Pike may be slow on Double Lake. However, the south lake was not sampled and may have had a few more Northern Pike. Be aware that a 2 bag, 24 inch minimum length limit of Northern Pike has been in effect since 2018. This means, you can only keep 2 Northern Pike per day only if they are over 24 inches. OTHER SPECIES Other species sampled in Double Lake in the trap net and gill net samples were 2 Bigmouth Buffalo, 62 Black Bullhead, 3 Bluegill, 18 Common Carp, 4 Channel Catfish, 18 Freshwater Drum, 2 River Redhorse Sucker, 24 White Sucker, and 21 Yellow Bullhead. Double Lake has a high number of species compared to other southwest Minnesota lakes. The high number of species is a result of the lake being connected to the Cottonwood River via Highwater Creek. Additionally, 3 small low head dams have been modified during the winter of 2019-20 near Sanborn and Lamberton to enhance fish passage. River Redhorse Sucker are unique and are not found often in southwest Minnesota lakes. Double Lake will continue to be characterized as a high diversity fishery due to its river connection. With that connection, the lake will receive and lose some fish naturally as they come and go from the lake.

Double Lake is a 246-acre, class 43 lake, located near Storden in Cottonwood County. The lake consists of two separate basins connected by a six foot diameter culvert. Despite having aeration in both basins, partial winterkills occur infrequently but haven't affected the highly diverse fish community. Sixteen species of fish sampled are likely due to a direct connection to the Cottonwood River via Highwater Creek. Double Lake is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for crappie, Yellow Perch, and Northern Pike. Double Lake was stocked with Lower Mississippi strain Walleye fry in the spring of 2017, due to surplus production of this strain. The Lower Mississippi strain was last stocked decades ago, but has persisted in several area lakes despite extensive stocking of Mississippi strain Walleye. A daytime electrofishing survey was conducted on September 11, 2017 to determine if the fry stocking was successful. Young-of-the year Walleye were captured at a rate of 195.0 per hour electrofishing, which indicates that the fry stocking was very successful. In stocked years, the goal is to attain 30.0 per hour electrofishing. Lengths of Walleye ranged from 4.8 to 5.9 inches and averaged 5.4 inches. If they survive the winter, the 2017 year class should be a very strong year class in the Double Lake Walleye population.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, White Crappie, Walleye, Channel Catfish, and Black Crappie in Double. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Double has a maximum depth of 9 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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