Freeborn

Freeborn Lake (247 acres) is a shallow, highly productive basin located north of Farwell. A concrete public access is found on the western shoreline off County Road 96. Average and maximum depths are 12 and 18 feet, respectively. Due to high productivity, water clarity was moderate (2.5 feet) at the time of the survey. High productivity allows for abundant, fast growing gamefish populations. A standard fisheries survey was completed during summer 2020 to provide updated information on the fish community of Freeborn Lake. Standard survey components typically include spring electrofishing, gill nets, and trap nets. However, due to safety concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic, gill nets were the only component used in 2020. Walleye catch rates (10.5/gill net) are the second highest reported in the past three decades. Most Walleye (70%) are a desirable size (15-20 inches), with the largest individual approaching 25 inches. High catch rates are due to strong 2017 and 2015 year classes. Growth rates were good. On average, it takes Walleye four years to reach 16 inches. Walleye fry are stocked on alternate years to maintain fishing opportunities. Fry stocking efforts appear highly successful in Freeborn Lake. Fry-stocked year classes account for over 80% of the current Walleye population. In addition, Walleye fingerlings have been stocked under private permit. Catch rates of Northern Pike (19.3/gill net) have doubled from the previous survey. Seventy percent of pike sampled ranged from 15 to 22 inches in length. Maximum length was 34.5 inches. Freeborn Lake falls in the North-central Zone where all pike 22-26 inches must be immediately released. Anglers can keep up to 10 pike but no more than two can be longer than 26 inches. Harvesting smaller pike will help shift the population back towards larger individuals and reduce the number of predators for young Walleye and other gamefish. Largemouth Bass are common. Fourteen bass, ranging in length from 7.8 to 15.7 inches, were sampled in gill nets. Gill net catch rates of Bluegill were high (14.0/gill net). Bluegill averaged 6.8 inches, but the largest individual measured 8.5 inches. Growth rates were rapid. Individuals approached 7.5 inches in length at age 5. Black Crappie were also abundant in 2020. Average and maximum lengths for crappie were 7.6 and 10.8 inches, respectively. Average length will likely increase in the near future as a strong 2018 year class continues to grow. Yellow Perch are abundant (18.5/gill net), but few perch exceed 7 inches. Other species recorded in the 2020 lake survey included hybrid sunfish, Pumpkinseed, and Black, Brown and Yellow Bullhead. The next lake survey is tentatively scheduled for 2026. Freeborn Lake is not currently known to have any aquatic invasive species. Anglers are reminded to drain boats and equipment prior to moving between bodies of water to minimize the risk of transporting aquatic invasive species.

A targeted survey of the nearshore fish community was conducted on August 31, 2016 by Fisheries Lake IBI program staff. Sampling stations 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 all ten stations with one site sampled from the boat. A 50-foot seine was used to sample six stations, a 15-foot seine was used at two stations, and conditions prevented the use of seines at two sampling sites. Nearshore sampling captured ten native species of fish including Iowa Darter, a species considered intolerant of habitat disturbance. Data from this survey is combined with data from a standard game fish survey completed in August 2014 to calculate a Fish-based Index of Biologic Integrity (FIBI) that describes the overall health of the lake. The FIBI score for Freeborn Lake based on this survey is above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes and indicates a healthy fish community. Data from this survey will be included as part of a process to assess the condition of surface waters of the Chippewa River watershed.

Freeborn Lake is a 248-acre basin located several miles north of Farwell, Minnesota. Similar to other shallow (average depth of 12.0 feet) lakes, Freeborn Lake is highly productive, supports emergent aquatic plant communities, and can have seasonally-impaired water quality (i.e., algal blooms). Despite occasional algal blooms in the summer months, annual water quality surpasses expectations for similar lakes in west-central Minnesota. For example, water clarity at the time of the survey (3.5 feet) exceeded the anticipated range for similar lakes. Freeborn Lake is not infested with zebra mussels or Eurasian watermilfoil (common aquatic invasive species). Anglers are reminded to drain boats and equipment prior to moving between bodies of water and to adhere to other aquatic invasive species laws in an effort to keep invasive species out of Freeborn Lake. Freeborn Lake supports a fish community that is typical of many west-central Minnesota Lakes. Fair to good fisheries exist for Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Black Crappie. Walleye proved to be moderately abundant. Gillnet catches averaged 6.7 fish/gill net. Average size was excellent at 17.9 inches and 2.3 pounds. Roughly 65% of all Walleyes caught exceeded 15.0 inches in length. Walleye growth was rapid in Freeborn Lake and is likely related to the high productivity of the system. Northern Pike catches were also elevated, but most pike are small, averaging 19.0 inches in length. Over 75% of captured Northern Pike were between 14.0 and 21.0 inches in length. The largest pike measured was 31.5 inches in total length. The Largemouth Bass population expanded with recruitment of two strong year classes in 2011 and 2012. Electrofishing catches exceeded 157.0 bass/hour in 2014. While most of the catch was comprised of young fish, age distribution of the population sample extended to age 15. Average size was low at 11.5 inches, but several bass captures exceeded 19.0 inches. Bluegill population abundance has continued to increase through the 2000s. Reproductive success and recruitment in 2010 was exceptional. Age-3 captures comprised 58% of total trapnet captures. Age distribution of 2014 captures was unusual. Only five age classes (ages 2-6) were represented in the population sample. Over 60% of captures exceeded 6.0 inches, but the lack of old fish in the population diminished fishing quality potential. Only six of 198 Bluegill captures in trapnets were 8.0 inches or larger. The Black Crappie catch rate of 4.2 fish/trapnet exceeded that of prior surveys, but all captures were from a single year class established in 2012. Fishing can be very inconsistent in response to such annual recruitment irregularity. Fortunately, those young crappies have grown fast. Two-year-old captures averaged 8.4 inches in length at time of capture in 2014. These fish may approach 10.0 inches in length in 2015, but given apparent recruitment inconsistencies, the population will only support a boom and bust fishery. A record-low density of Yellow Perch was documented in 2014 in probable response to expanding populations of Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Walleye. Yellow Perch provide an important prey source in many west-central Minnesota lakes. It will prove difficult to sustain existing predator densities, growth, and fishing quality with a paucity of preferred-prey. Walleye stocking success can be projected to decline in response to predation. Angler harvest of these predatory fish species, particularly small- to moderate-sized Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass, is strongly encouraged. Removal of small Northern Pike would allow Yellow Perch populations to recover and will provide more prey for other species (e.g., Walleye). Public access to Freeborn Lake is located on the west shoreline off of County Road 96.

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

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

Freeborn has a maximum depth of 18 feet and a mean depth of 12 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Freeborn is from 2020.

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