Lobster

Lobster Lake is a 1,334 acre lake located about four miles west of Alexandria. The lake's irregular shape with many arms, bays, and islands has over 17 miles of shoreline and offers a rich diversity of fish habitat and fishing opportunities. The lake has a maximum depth of 65 feet and an average depth of 15 feet. Water clarity peaked during the 2021 survey (15 feet) after zebra mussels were discovered in 2016, before moderating to 10.5 feet during this survey. A public access is located on the southwest end of the lake, off Douglas County Highway 27. Walleye numbers are low (2.7/gill net) and have never been abundant. However, growth is fast. Fish ranged from 9.7 to 26.6 inches, averaging 18.1 inches. Stocking of fingerling, yearling or adult Walleyes has occurred nearly annually for over 20 years, but have failed to result in any measurable benefit to the fishery. For that reason, stocking was changed to fry in 2025. Largemouth Bass relative abundance (35 bass per hour of electrofishing) was higher than the 2021 survey (21 bass per hour). Size structure improvements observed in the last survey have remained, although mean length was only 11.3 inches because of a strong 2023 year class. The largest bass sampled was an impressive 19.4-inch individual. Bluegill were abundant (35.3/trap net), even for Lobster Lake. Size structure was poor, with a mean length of only 5.6 inches, because most fish were young. The largest Bluegill sampled was 9.0 inches. Black Crappie are abundant (5.3/gill net), especially for a late-July survey, but lower than recent surveys in Lobster Lake. While the crappie density is lower, growth is still slow. Average length was 8.0 inches, and the largest crappie was 11.7 inches. Northern Pike were sampled at the highest abundance (11.4/gill net) since 1983. While most fish were small (80% under 22 inches; average=20.3 inches), the largest pike sampled was 32.6 inches. Anglers are encouraged to harvest small Northern Pike. New Northern Pike regulations were implemented in 2018 to increase size structure. Lobster Lake is in the North-Central Zone, where all pike from 22 to 26 inches must be released. Anglers can keep 10 pike, but not more than two can be longer than 26 inches. Northern Pike taken by spearing follow the same rules, except one pike may be between 22 and 26 inches, or two larger than 26 inches. For more information see: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/pike/index.html. A Muskellunge population estimate took place from 2022-2023 (see 2023 targeted survey). Other species sampled included Bowfin (Dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Yellow Bullhead and Yellow Perch. Zebra mussels were first recorded in 2016. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are easily moved from infested to non-infested waters and can negatively affect lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain water from their boat before leaving the access. For more information regarding aquatic invasive species see the following: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquatic/index.html.

A mark-recapture population estimate of Muskies began in spring of 2022 on Lobster Lake using passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags (see 2022 targeted survey). Fish were sampled using both large frame trap nets and electrofishing in 2022. In spring of 2023, fish were recaptured using exclusively electrofishing. A total of 83 individual fish were PIT tagged between the two years. Lengths ranged from 10.8 to 51.2 inches; average length was 40.3 inches. The population estimate was 193 adult (30 inches or greater) Muskies. This equates to an adult Muskie for every 6.9 surface acres (or 3.6 littoral acres).

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Lobster Lake was conducted on August 8-10, 2022, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at eighteen sampling stations, but six stations were sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample seven stations, a 15-foot seine was used at five stations, and site conditions prevented the use of seines at six stations. Nearshore sampling captured twenty-two species of fish including seven species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Least Darter, Pugnose Shiner, and Rock Bass) and one that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Green Sunfish). A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by IBI Program staff. Twelve trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured thirteen species of fish, including two that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Rock Bass and Smallmouth Bass) and three that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Black Bullhead, Common Carp, and Green Sunfish). Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number and biomass. The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from a July 2021 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Least Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead, Common Carp, and Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Results from this survey indicate that the fish community in Lobster Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Long Prairie River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

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

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

Lobster has a maximum depth of 65 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 Lobster is from 2025.

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