Nelson

Nelson is an eighty-six acre lake located just east of Jenkins in northwestern Crow Wing County. The lake is 65 feet deep and about 36% of the surface is less than 15 feet deep. It has moderately hard water and moderate phosphorus fertility. Water clarity was above average for the area in 1997. Bottom soils in water shallower than four feet are mostly sand and marl, with some areas of gravel and rubble sized rock (3-10' diameter) also found. The aquatic plant community is fairly diverse. Emergent plants help protect shorelines from erosion. Such species as bulrushes and wild rice also enhance the quality of spawning areas for fish like northern pike, bass and several panfish species. Submergent species provide critical cover and food sources for a wide variety of fish and other aquatic animals.A lake survey was conducted in the summer of 1997.Fish were sampled by gill net, trap net and shoreline seine. Species catch rates were compared to catches in similar type lakes and to catch rates from the 1968 initial lake survey of Nelson Lake, the only previous netting.Compared to similar type lakes, the northern pike catch was in the "average" category. Fish ranged from 16-27 inches long and averaged 24 inches and 3.0 lbs. in size. The 1993 year class was most abundant in the catch. Pike growth appeared to be good. Northern pike were only sampled by trap net in 1968.Walleyes were stocked privately, by permit, from 1993-'96. The '97 walleye catch was 1/GN, in the "average" category. Only two walleyes were caught. Both appeared too large to have been from the recent stockings. In 1968 only one walleye was caught; by trapnet.The largemouth bass catch of 11.7/TN was in the "high" category. The majority of fish were from the 1995 or '94 year classes. Growth was in the "good" category. The 1968 bass catch was also in the "high" range.The bluegill catch of 105.7/TN was "high" but similar to the 1968 catch of 90/TN. The 1993 year class was most abundant in the sample. Bluegill growth bordered on "slow." Pumpkinseed and rock bass were also caught in "high" numbers in the '97 survey.Black crappies were also stocked privately in 1994-'96, by permit. Black crappies were not sampled in 1997. The sample size in 1968 was only one fish.Yellow perch is an important forage fish for gamefish like northern pike and walleyes. Yellow perch were caught in "low" numbers in 1968 and were not sampled in the '97 survey.Other fish present in the '97 netting included: brown bullheads, yellow bullheads, hybrid sunfish, golden shiners and white suckers.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Rock Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Hybrid Sunfish, and Pumpkinseed in Nelson. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Nelson has a maximum depth of 65 feet and a mean depth of 31 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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