Bonnie

Crow Wing County

Near Merrifield

DOW: 18025900

Northern PikeExcellent · 87Black CrappieGood · 69BluegillGood · 55

A 76-acre lake near Merrifield in Crow Wing County — best known for pike and panfish. Last surveyed 2021.

Fish Species (12)

Northern Pike

Excellent · 87

Above-normal numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1994

Last surveyed 1994 — treat with caution

Avg Size

23.6"

Avg Weight

3.12 lbs

Catch rate: 18.5 per gill net · typical 4.8–12.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 27, 2021	0.50	30.0"	5.77 lbs	3/8-in trap nets
Jun 30, 1994	18.50	23.6"	3.12 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 30, 1994	1.00	23.6"	3.74 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Crappie

Good · 69

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1994

Last surveyed 1994 — treat with caution

Avg Size

9.0"

Avg Weight

0.94 lbs

Catch rate: 1.0 per gill net · typical 1–4.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 30, 1994	1.00	9.0"	0.94 lbs	Standard gill nets

Bluegill

Good · 55

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1994

Last surveyed 1994 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.5"

Avg Weight

0.15 lbs

Catch rate: 31.8 per trap net · typical 8.3–50.1 for a lake like this

Size of catchable bluegill15% keeper-size (8"+)

3–7" · 85%Largest sampled 8"

Size from the Sep 2021 survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 27, 2021	6.50	4.4"	0.14 lbs	3/8-in trap nets
Jun 30, 1994	4.50	5.5"	0.20 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 30, 1994	31.75	5.5"	0.15 lbs	Standard trap nets

Pumpkinseed

Good · 52

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1994

Last surveyed 1994 — treat with caution

Avg Size

6.3"

Avg Weight

0.34 lbs

Catch rate: 0.75 per trap net · typical 2.8–10.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 27, 2021	2.00	5.8"	0.23 lbs	3/8-in trap nets
Jun 30, 1994	10.33	6.3"	-	Survey seining
Jun 30, 1994	0.50	6.3"	0.09 lbs	Standard gill nets

Hybrid Sunfish

Good · 50

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1994

Last surveyed 1994 — treat with caution

Avg Size

6.3"

Avg Weight

0.35 lbs

Catch rate: 4.3 per trap net

Size of catchable hybrid sunfish0% keeper-size (8"+)

3–7" · 100%Largest sampled 7"

Size from the Sep 2021 survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 27, 2021	4.00	3.8"	0.11 lbs	3/8-in trap nets
Jun 30, 1994	4.25	6.3"	0.35 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Perch

Average · 40

Typical numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1994

Last surveyed 1994 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.3"

Avg Weight

0.09 lbs

Catch rate: 3.5 per gill net · typical 2–21.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 27, 2021	0.50	6.0"	0.12 lbs	3/8-in trap nets
Jun 30, 1994	0.67	5.3"	-	Survey seining
Jun 30, 1994	3.50	5.3"	0.09 lbs	Standard gill nets

Largemouth Bass

Insufficient

Trap-net survey · surveyed Sep 2021

Avg Size

4.0"

Avg Weight

0.04 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 27, 2021	0.50	4.0"	0.04 lbs	3/8-in trap nets
Jun 30, 1994	2.50	12.3"	1.54 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 30, 1994	2.25	12.3"	1.63 lbs	Standard trap nets

Other species in this lake (5)

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

Yellow Bullhead

Excellent · 76

Typical numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1994

Last surveyed 1994 — treat with caution

Avg Size

10.9"

Avg Weight

0.80 lbs

Catch rate: 9.8 per trap net · typical 2.1–10.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 27, 2021	9.50	9.2"	0.49 lbs	3/8-in trap nets
Jun 30, 1994	47.00	10.9"	0.83 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 30, 1994	9.75	10.9"	0.80 lbs	Standard trap nets

White Sucker

Good · 60

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1994

Last surveyed 1994 — treat with caution

Avg Size

20.5"

Avg Weight

3.64 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net · typical 0.5–2.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 30, 1994	0.25	20.5"	5.16 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 30, 1994	0.50	20.5"	3.64 lbs	Standard gill nets

Brown Bullhead

Good · 50

Large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1994

Last surveyed 1994 — treat with caution

Avg Size

13.8"

Avg Weight

1.61 lbs

Catch rate: 2.0 per gill net · typical 0.5–4.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 30, 1994	2.00	13.8"	1.61 lbs	Standard gill nets

Johnny Darter

Insufficient

Seining survey · surveyed Jun 1994

Last surveyed 1994 — treat with caution

Catch rate: 1.3 · Seining survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 30, 1994	1.33	-	-	Survey seining

Shiner species

Insufficient

Seining survey · surveyed Jun 1994

Last surveyed 1994 — treat with caution

Catch rate: 3.7 · Seining survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 30, 1994	3.67	-	-	Survey seining

Biologist Notes

September 27, 2021Bonnie is a 76 acre lake in the center of Crow Wing County with a maximum depth of 42 feet and no public access. Two single frame 3/8" trap nets were…

Bonnie is a 76 acre lake in the center of Crow Wing County with a maximum depth of 42 feet and no public access. Two single frame 3/8" trap nets were walked out from shore on September 27, 2021 and left overnight to get a sample of the species found in the lake. Seven species were captured, with Yellow Bullhead (9.5/trap net) and Bluegill (6.5/trap net) being the most numerous. Other species included Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, and Yellow Perch.

June 30, 1994Bonnie lake is 63 acres in size and is located about seven miles north of Merrifield. There is no public access on this lake. Development included abo…

Bonnie lake is 63 acres in size and is located about seven miles north of Merrifield. There is no public access on this lake. Development included about 12 homes/cabins in 1994. The lake has moderately-hard water and low phosphorus fertility. Water clarity is about average for the area. About 62% of the lake is shallower than 15 feet. Shallow water soils are primarily sand and silt. The aquatic plant community is fairly diverse. Emergent species like bulrush often provide preferred spawning habitat for bass and panfish species. Submergent species grew to a depth of about 20 feet in 1994. These species provide cover and feeding areas for a wide variety of fish species.Northern pike and largemouth bass were the most abundant gamefish species in the 1994 netting. Compared to similar type lakes, northern pike abundance was "high." However, average length was 24 inches and average weight was 3.1 lbs.. Seven age classes were sampled in fairly uniform numbers and growth was good. Largemouth bass were also caught in "high" numbers. Average weight was 1.6 lbs. and six age classes were present.The bluegill catch was "average" compared to similar type lakes. Seven age classes were sampled and growth was slow. About 12% of bluegills sampled were 7.0 inches or more in length. Other panfish sampled included hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseeds and black crappies.Forage species sampled included "average" numbers of yellow perch and white suckers. Other species sampled included brown bullheads and yellow bullheads.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Bonnie?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, and Hybrid Sunfish in Bonnie. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.