Pocket

Pocket Lake is a 263-acre relatively shallow, productive basin located in southcentral Douglas County within the Long Prairie watershed. Mean and maximum depths are 15 and 40 feet, respectively. This lake is not highly developed and recreational pressure is minimal. A public access is located on the southwest shoreline. A popular shore fishing spot is located on the north shoreline off of County Road 4. Pocket Lake is designated as an infested waterbody due to the presence of zebra mussels, which were first confirmed in 2016. A standard lake survey was completed during summer 2022 to assess the fish community and gain updated estimates of abundance and size structure of gamefish populations. Survey results were indicative of a typical bass-panfish lake found in west-central Minnesota. Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, and Bluegill were all abundant. The size structure of bass and pike populations were favorable. Bass exceeding 15 inches and pike exceeding 26 inches were sampled in good numbers. The largest bass measured over 18 inches and the largest pike measured just shy of 33 inches. Pike anglers are reminded that this basin falls in the North-central Zone where anglers can now keep up to 10 pike but not more than two can be over 26 inches in length. All pike between 22-26 inches must be immediately released. Panfish populations on this basin tend to "stunt" and are typically dominated by small- to medium-sized individuals. In the 2022 survey, high numbers of Black Crappie and Bluegill were observed but no crappie exceeded 10 inches and very few Bluegill exceeded 8 inches. Anglers are encouraged to harvest these surplus smaller fish to help reduce density, increase growth rates, and improve size structure of these populations. The Walleye population in this lake typically exhibits low to moderate abundance but moderate to high size structure. Average size of the 2022 gill net sample was 17 inches and almost 2 pounds. Record-low Yellow Perch abundance was documented in 2022 and most perch sampled were small individuals. Harvestable-size perch are rare on this basin. Other species sampled in 2022 included Bowfin (dogfish), Brown and Yellow Bullhead, Common Carp, Green Sunfish, hybrid sunfish, Pumpkinseed, and White Sucker. The next lake survey is tentatively scheduled for 2028.

This nearshore survey was conducted during summer 2017 to assess populations of non-game species and small game fish using backpack electrofishing and seining. Backpack electrofishing and/or seining were conducted at 10 stations, representing a variety of habitat types, along the shoreline of Pocket Lake. The survey was conducted during the five-year sampling window for intensive monitoring efforts within the Long Prairie River watershed, and will be contributing to a watershed assessment process in coordination with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Fourteen species were collected during this survey. Two species (Banded Killifish and Iowa Darter) were considered "intolerant" and two species (Fathead Minnow and Green Sunfish) were considered "tolerant" based on current tolerance classifications for Minnesota lakes. Nearshore catch data will be used along with gill and trap net catch data to develop an Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) score, which is indicative of the health of Pocket Lake.

Pocket Lake is a 275-acre lake located approximately 10 miles southwest of Alexandria. The basin has a maximum depth of 40 feet and an average depth of approximately 15 feet. The lake exists in a eutrophic state in response to excessive nutrient delivery from the watershed and internal nutrient cycling during summer months. Water transparency measures during summer months from 2008 to 2016 have averaged 5.7 feet. Occasional nuisance algal blooms can occur. Due to depth and fertility, the lake becomes thermally stratified during the summer. While thermally stratified, dissolved oxygen concentrations may be too low to support fish life below the thermocline. The thermocline occurred at approximately 17.0 feet during the July 2016 standardized fisheries survey. Much of the lake's submergent vegetation occurs in the shallow, northern end of the lake. Habitat conditions can be seasonally harsh for cool water gamefishes and sight-feeding predators. Even with such challenges, Pocket Lake can offer good fishing opportunities and quieter fishing experiences than other lakes near Alexandria. The most recent fisheries survey was completed in 2016. Survey methodology included spring electrofishing on May 24 to assess Largemouth Bass population abundance and size structure. Gill and trap nets were set from July 5-7 to best capture and estimate abundance, age structure, growth, and size distribution of other gamefishes. Similar to preceding survey results, Black Crappies proved to be very abundant. Size of captures extended to 10.9 inches. Most crappie captures were two- or three-year-old fish, thus average size of captures in trap nets was only 5.8 inches. These population attributes were very similar to that of Bluegill Sunfish. Trap net catches of Bluegills were elevated. Age distribution of captures extended to age 8, but most of the total catch was comprised of two- and three-year-old individuals. Rate of growth of Bluegills is a little too slow to optimize fishing potential. Older captures were just reaching 8.0 inches in length at age 7. With a maximum age of eight-years-old, the relative proportion of 8.0-inch and larger Bluegill captures during this and past surveys has been limited. The largest Bluegill measured during the 2016 survey was 8.6 inches in total length. Yellow Perch were moderately abundant, but captures were too small to contribute to the panfishery. Average length of perch caught in gill nets was 6.4 inches. Walleyes are stocked to sustain this popular fishing opportunity. Twenty-two Walleyes were captured in gill nets, which yielded a modest catch rate of 3.7 fish/net. Sizes at capture ranged from 11.1 to 22.9 inches and averaged 16.4 inches. Northern Pike are more abundant, but in absence of cisco and a coolwater refuge during summer months, growth potential is diminished. Pike catches ranged from 10.3 to 30.3 inches in length. Average length was 21.9 inches. Largemouth Bass catches during the spring electrofishing survey were lower than anticipated based on past survey results. Annual recruitment of young bass into the population appeared to be limited from 2009 through 2012. Most bass captures were young fish determined to be two- or three-years-old or older individuals either eight- or nine-years-old. Average length at capture was 9.6 inches. The largest bass captured by electrofishing measured 16.5 inches. Catch statistics generated from the 2016 survey would tend to describe only fair fishing because of the high proportion of young sunfishes (Largemouth Bass, Bluegills, and Black Crappies) in the total catch. Fishing experiences might best be described as high catch rates, but a small average size. Fish quality expressed in terms of average size of captures should improve markedly as those young fish grow to preferred sizes. Anglers are encouraged to target the surplus of 22.0-inch and smaller Northern Pike and practice catch and release of larger, older predators to maintain or enhance predator-prey balance and fish quality. A DNR public access is located on the far south end of the lake. Zebra mussels were found in Pocket Lake in 2016. Anglers and recreational boaters are urged to thoroughly clean and disinfect watercraft after use and avoid transporting water and invasive species to other non-infested basins.

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

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

Pocket has a maximum depth of 40 feet and a mean depth of 15 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Pocket is from 2022.

Yes — Pocket has confirmed zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.