Rachel

Rachel Lake is a 496 acre natural basin located in south central Douglas County near Holmes City. Maximum depth is 65 feet. Water quality and clarity are typically very good, although significant annual variability is noted. Rachel Lake supports a robust aquatic plant community. Habitat attributes are typical of a "Bass-Panfish" ecological classification, although lake area and habitat characteristics have varied over the last 20 years. Heavy rains resulted in significant increases in water levels in the 1990s. An outlet was constructed in 2003, but lake elevation remains near the ordinary high water mark. Much of the basin's emergent vegetation (hardstem bulrush and cattail) was lost to rising water, although rising water elevations did flood out some trees and there was an increase in woody habitat for fish. There is a navigable connection between the main basin and the smaller basin (Little Rachel) to the south. Boaters should use caution, as there is a number of tree stumps under the surface in this shallow water. Northern Pike harvest is regulated by a 24-36 inch protected slot length limit. Due to the navigable connection between Rachel and Little Rachel lakes, the Northern Pike harvest regulation applies to both basins. Survey results suggest the 24-36 inch protected slot length limit has had a positive effect on reshaping size structure. Northern Pike abundance has remained elevated since the water levels increased in the 1990s, but the number of large pike has increased in recent years. A number of pike over 30 inches were observed in the recent survey. Despite a decrease in the number of small pike in the survey, they are still overabundant, and anglers are encouraged to harvest fish under 24 inches in length. Largemouth Bass abundance decreased during the last two surveys. Growth rates of bass are moderate and approximately half the bass were 14 inches or longer in this survey. Survival of young bass appears to be down in recent years. Bluegill catch rates were moderate and few fish over 8 inches were observed. Black Crappie abundance has increased, mostly due to an above average year class from 2021. Bluegill and Black Crappie grow slow in Rachel Lake, but they often live long enough to reach sizes desired by anglers. Rachel Lake supports a low abundance Walleye population. The lake is stocked with Walleye fingerlings every other year and recent stocking attempts have seen poor survival. Currently most fish are between 14 and 22 inches. The Walleye that are in Rachel Lake grow fairly fast and can obtain large sizes. Fish up to 27 inches have been observed. Rachel Lake is also unique in that it sustains a decent population of Tullibee. Tullibee catch rates were up slightly in 2018 and 2024 and fish up to 16 inches were observed. At the time of the 2024 survey, Rachel Lake is not known to contain any invasive species. Recreational users should take necessary precautions to prevent the further spread of invasive species. Drain all water and remove all aquatic vegetation from your boat and trailer when leaving any body of water. Do not dispose of any unused bait in the lake. Updated information on invasive species infestations can be found on the MN DNR website.

This nearshore survey was conducted during summer 2018 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 Rachel Lake. The survey was conducted during the five-year sampling window for intensive monitoring efforts within the Chippewa River watershed, and will be contributing to a watershed assessment process in coordination with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Fifteen species were collected during this survey. Four species (Banded Killifish, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Least Darter) were considered "intolerant" and one species (Green Sunfish) was 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 Rachel Lake.

Rachel Lake is a 496-acre basin located in south-central Douglas County near Holmes City. Maximum depth estimates have varied from 65 feet to 76 feet with a sustained increase in water level since 1986. This increase in water level created a broad navigable connection between Rachel and Little Rachel lakes and increased the littoral or shallow water habitat and productivity of the combined basins. An outlet was constructed in 2003 to address high water and associated property damages. Water quality and clarity are typically very good, although significant annual variability is noted. Water transparency during the 2018 survey was 9.0 feet. Rachel Lake supports a robust aquatic plant community. Habitat attributes are typical of a "Bass-Panfish" ecological classification, although lake area and habitat characteristics have varied with water level changes. Much of Rachel Lake's emergent vegetation (hardstem bulrush and cattail) was lost to high water. However, some fishes such as Northern Pike and members of the sunfish family prospered with connection of Rachel and Little or South Rachel basins and expanded spawning and nursery habitat. Northern Pike harvest is regulated by a 24.0- to 36.0-inch protected slot length limit. Due to the navigable connection between Rachel and Little Rachel lakes, the Northern Pike harvest regulation applies to both basins. Survey results suggest the protected slot length limit has had a positive effect on reshaping size structure and improving quality of the Northern Pike fishery. Northern Pike abundance has remained elevated since water levels increased. Abundance of larger pike has also increased with restrictions on size of pike harvested. Over half the pike captured during the 2018 survey exceeded 24 inches in length. Three memorable-size pike exceeding 34 inches were captured. Despite a decrease in the number of small pike in the survey, there is still an overabundance and surplus of small Northern Pike in the population. Anglers are encouraged to harvest fish under 24 inches in length. Largemouth Bass catches during the 2018 spring electrofishing survey decreased from that of the 2012 survey in apparent response to diminished annual recruitment in recent years. Such declines can be expected with stabilization of water level and diminished carrying capacity. Approximately half of Largemouth Bass captures were 12 inches or longer. Bass in Rachel Lake grow slowly. On average, it takes a Largemouth Bass 5.7 years to reach 12 inches. The largest bass observed was 18.3 inches. Bluegill numbers decreased for the second survey in a row, but a modest increase in catches measuring 8 inches and larger were observed. The largest Bluegill caught was 9.3 inches. On average, it takes Bluegill in Rachel Lake 4.6 years to reach 6 inches in length. Black Crappie are observed in most surveys, but catch rates are typically low. Crappie have a tendency to suspend in deeper water during the summer and are not always susceptible to capture in survey nets. Angler reports would indicate that Rachel Lake supports a good fishery. The Little or South Rachel basin is often a popular destination for spring crappie anglers. Walleye fingerlings are stocked every other year in an effort to sustain a fishery. Walleye catch rates have been modest during all surveys and population density may be under-represented in gill net catch rates due to the difficulty in positioning and deploying standard gill nets in this deep, steep-sided basin. Walleye catches declined during the 2018 survey to average only 1.6 fish/net. Survival of recent stockings appeared to be poor. The Walleye that are in Rachel Lake grow fairly fast and can obtain large sizes. The largest Walleye measured 27.8 inches. Rachel Lake supports a Cisco or Tullibee population. Survey catches are limited due to low vulnerability of Cisco to capture in standard gill net sets during summer months. Cisco catch rates were up slightly in 2018. The largest fish measured 16.3 inches. Only Rachel Lake and Lake Ida are open to Whitefish/Cisco netting in Douglas County. At the time of the 2018 survey, Rachel Lake is not known to contain any invasive species. It is one of very few lakes in Douglas County that does not support a naturalized Common Carp population. The absence of invasive aquatic species should provide ample justification for recreational users to take any and all necessary precautions to prevent further spread of invasive species. Drain all water and remove all aquatic vegetation from your boat and trailer when leaving any body of water. Do not dispose of any unused bait in the lake. Updated information on invasive species infestations can be found on the MN DNR website.

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

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

Rachel has a maximum depth of 65 feet and a mean depth of 30 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Rachel is from 2024.

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