Aaron

A targeted survey was conducted May 14-15 on Aaron Lake to assess the Bluegill and Black Crappie populations. Bluegill were abundant (90.5/trap net). Lengths ranged from 3.4 to 8.9 inches, with an average of 6.8 inches. Growth is below average for the area, but Bluegill were recorded out to age 12. Black Crappie catch rates (3.6/trap net) were moderate. Size structure is poor, which is likely the result of slow growth and relatively young fish (predominately age 4). Lengths ranged from 5.5 to 10.5 inches; average length was 8.7 inches. Anglers are encouraged to practice selective harvest to help sustain the quality of the fishery. Selective harvest encourages the release of larger fish while promoting harvest of more abundant smaller fish. Releasing medium to large fish can help restore and maintain fish community balance, as well as increase opportunities to catch large fish in the future.

Lake Aaron is a 545-acre lake located less than a mile west of Millerville in northern Douglas County. The lake is shallow with a maximum depth of 16 feet. A trend of increasing water clarity continues. Water transparency was 10.0 feet at the time of the 2022 survey. The basin's moderate to high fertility can occasionally cause reductions in water clarity due to algae growth, particularly after heavy winds. Residential development is minimal, and the shoreline provides good fish and wildlife habitat, with extensive stands of hardstem bulrush and woody cover. The public access and an active family resort are located on the south side of the lake. A standard fisheries survey was completed in June of 2022 to evaluate abundance and size distribution of gamefish populations. Lake Aaron supports a limited Walleye fishery sustained through supplemental fingerling stockings. Gill net catch rates of 4.0 Walleye/net were representative of historic averages. Walleye grow rapidly in this productive basin and typically reach 16 inches after three growing seasons. Catch rates of Northern Pike (17.7/gill net) have more than doubled from the previous survey. Eighty-nine percent of pike sampled ranged from 14 to 20 inches in length. In 2022, mean size was 17 inches and 1.2 pounds. The largest pike sampled measured 35 inches. Anglers are reminded that new pike zone regulations were implemented in 2018. Lake Aaron is located in the North-Central Zone. 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. 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 abundant in Lake Aaron. Catch rates of Largemouth Bass in gill nets and by electrofishing were high. Largemouth Bass growth is slow and on average it takes five years for bass to reach 12 inches. Size structure of the electrofishing catch described a quality fishery. Approximately 70% of the bass were over 12 inches and the largest bass observed from all sampling types was 19 inches. Bluegill catch rates averaged 19.3 fish/trap net, which is historically low for Lake Aaron. Conversely, gill net catch rates of 52.7 Bluegill/net were a record high. This suggests Bluegill had likely moved offshore at the time of the late-June survey. Growth rates are moderate and on average, it takes Bluegill 5.5 years to reach 6 inches. A significant number of Bluegill over 8 inches were caught during the survey, with the largest measuring 9.5 inches. Black Crappie proved to be abundant and 64% of fish were less than 5 years old. Similar to the Bluegill catch, a majority of Black Crappie were captured in offshore gill nets. Black Crappie growth rates are moderate; average length of age 4 fish was over 9 inches. The largest Black Crappie in the sample was over 12 inches and the oldest crappie was 11 years old. Adult Yellow Perch numbers were low during the 2022 survey. Yellow Perch are preferred prey of Walleye, Northern Pike, and Largemouth Bass. Other species sampled during the 2022 survey included Black, Brown, and Yellow Bullhead, Common Carp, hybrid sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, and White Sucker. The next standard lake survey is tentatively scheduled for 2028. Lake Aaron was designated as an infested water after the discovery of zebra mussels in 2020. Recreational users should take 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.

A targeted survey of the nearshore fish community was conducted on June 15, 2016 by Fisheries IBI Program Staff. Sampling stations were evenly spaced around the lake and backpack electrofishing was completed at all 14 sampling stations, but 1 stations was sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample 12 stations, a 15-foot seine was used at 1 station, and site conditions prevented the use of seines at 1 station. Nearshore sampling captured 16 species of fish including 4 species that are intolerant of disturbance (Banded Killifish, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Smallmouth Bass) and none that are tolerant of disturbance. Data from this survey is combined with data from a standard game fish survey completed in July 2016 to calculate a Fish-based Index of Biological Integrity (FIBI) score that describes the overall health of the lake. The FIBI score for Aaron Lake from this survey is above an impairment threshold for aquatic life use developed for similar lakes. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community as part of a process to assess the condition of surface waters of the Chippewa River Watershed.

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

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

Aaron has a maximum depth of 16 feet and a mean depth of 9 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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