Ina

Ina Lake is a relatively small northern pike - centrarchid lake located adjacent to Lake Christina. There is no public access, thus management activities have been limited. The lake was last surveyedin 1988. Lakeshore residents have noticed a decline in water clarity, aquatic vegetation coverage, andgamefish populations over the past decade. Northern pike catches averaged 9.3 fish/gillnet in 1997. Gillnet catches have been variable in pastsurveys, averaging 0.3, 16.3, and 3.5 fish/net in 1988, 1983, and 1973, respectively. The normal rangeof mean catch rates for similar lakes is 3.5 - 10.5 fish/gillnet. Fish captured in gillnets rangedfrom 9.6 to 36.4 inches in total length, however 60% were less than 14.0 inches. Mean weight of fishcaptured was 1.4 pounds. Numerous small northern pike were also captured in trapnets. These smallfish are cohorts of the 1995 year class (age-2). Bluegill are abundant. Trapnet catches averaged 59.5fish/net. Trapnet catches have ranged from 25.5 to 172.0 fish/net in previous surveys. Most of thefish captured were between 6.0 and 8.0 inches in total length. Eighty percent of the fish captured intrapnets were age-6 or greater. Black crappie catches averaged 4.5 fish/trapnet. Trapnet catches havebeen consistent in past surveys, ranging from 3.1 to 4.5 fish/net. Mean weight of fish captured was0.5 pounds. Yellow perch catches averaged 5.7 fish/gillnet which is within the normal range of meancatch rates for similar lakes (3.4 - 43.6 fish/gillnet). Gillnet catches averaged 0.3, 6.3,and 5.8fish/net in 1988, 1983, and 1973, respectively. Mean weight of fish captured in 1997 was 0.1 pounds. Black bullhead and yellow bullhead catches averaged 22.0 and 11.3 fish/trapnet, respectively. Surprisingly, gillnet catches were less than 1.0 fish/net.

INA IS PREDOMINANTLY A CENTRARCHID LAKE. BLUEGILL, BLACK CRAPPIE AND LARGEMOUTH BASS TRAPNET CATCH INDICES WERE ALL ABOVE THE STATE-WIDE MEDIAN. BLUEGILL MEAN WEIGHT WAS 0.15 LBS/FISH. FIFTY- THREE PERCENT OF BLUEGILL CAPTURED WERE OVER 6.0 INCHES LONG AND 13% WERE OVER 7.0 INCHES IN LENGTH ALTHOUGH LARGEMOUTH BASS ARE HARD TO SAMPLE WITH NETS, IT APPEARS THERE IS A VIABLE POPULATION, WITH MANY QUALITY-SIZE FISH. THE LARGEST BASS SAMPLED WAS 19.5 INCHES LONG. THERE APPEARS TO BE AN ABUNDANCE OF SMALL BLACK BULLHEAD WITH NO SPORT OR COMMERCIAL VALUE. BIGMOUTH BUFFALO ARE ALSO ABUNDANT AND MAY HAVE COMMERCIAL VALUE. NO WALLEYE WERE NETTED DURING THIS SURVEY, AND NET CATCHES WOULD SUGGEST ONLY A MARGINAL NORTHERN PIKE FISHERY.

The fish community is representative of a lake with the physical characteristics of Ina Lake. Stunted populations of Sunfish Species and Black Crappies are the most abundant. Northern Pike are abundant and dominate as the primary predator. The Largemouth Bass population, although probably underutilized and poorly sampled, provides ample angling opportunities.

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

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Ina. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Ina has a maximum depth of 48 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Ina is from 1997. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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