Loon

Loon Lake is located 2 miles north of Dorset in southern Hubbard County. Loon has a surface area of 82 acres and a maximum depth of 50 feet. There is no public access on Loon. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Loon is in Lake Class 28. Class 28 lakes are small, with clear and hard water, and a regularly shaped shoreline. Other class 28 lakes in the Park Rapids area include: Big Bass, Buck, Dinner, Emma, Gilmore, Indian, Little Blueberry, Morgan, Nagel, Newman, Shipman and Williams. Anglers can expect to find an abundant population of northern pike in Loon. Sampled northern pike had an average length and weight of 20 inches and 1.8 pounds, with pike measured up to 33 inches. Largemouth bass were sampled in similar numbers as past surveys, an average length of 10 inches, and fish sampled up to 13 inches. Black crappie abundance was above the range of historic surveys. Average length of black crappies was 8.4 inches, with fish sampled up to 12.3 inches. Anglers will find fewer bluegills than past years, with most fish in the 6-8 inch size range. Pumpkinseeds were also sampled in good numbers, and a similar size that could be targeted by anglers. Currently no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Loon. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access.

Thomas (Loon) Lake is located eight miles northeast of Park Rapids in Hubbard County. Thomas has a surface area of 90 acres and a maximum depth of 50 feet. Fisheries survey work has been conducted in 2001, 1991, and 1948 on Thomas Lake. There is no public access on Thomas Lake. Thomas provides angling opportunities for northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and panfish.The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Thomas is in lake class 28. Other area lakes in this same classification include Big Bass, Dinner, Emma, Gilmore, Indian, Nagel, Newman, and Williams.Northern pike were sampled in high numbers (19.0/gillnet), above the range "typical" for this lake class. Northern pike were sampled in moderate numbers in 1991, while no pike were sampled in 1948. The northern pike sample was dominated by small, "hammer handle" pike with an average length and weight of 19.8 inches and 1.8 pounds. Northern pike up to 28.1 inches were sampled. Northern pike growth rates were slow when compared to other area lakes.Three walleye were sampled in the gillnets . Sampled walleye ranged in length from 20.4 to 21.4 inches. Walleye abundance was similar in 1991, while no walleye were sampled in the 1948 survey. There has been no recorded stocking of walleye in Thomas Lake.Moderate numbers of panfish were sampled in Thomas. Bluegill, black crappie, and pumpkinseed were all sampled within the "typical" range for this lake class. Bluegill had an average length of 6.1 inches with fish measured up to 8.3 inches. Black crappie up to 11.3 inches and pumpkinseed up to 7.4 inches were sampled.Thomas contains both a largemouth bass and smallmouth bass population. Moderate numbers of both species of bass were sampled with standard survey gear (gillnet and trapnets). Smallmouth bass up to 16.7 inches and largemouth bass up to 14.6 inches were sampled. Thomas has good water quality and bass habitat. Other species sampled included moderate numbers of rock bass and golden shiner, and low numbers of yellow bullhead.

Catch rates of walleye (1.00 fish/gillnet and 2.80 lbs/gillnet) were within the normal ranges for Lake Class 28 of the Schupp Classification System. No walleye were sampled during the only other survey of this lake in 1948. Mean weight of walleye sampled in 1991 was high at 2.80 lbs. Too few fish were caught to assess age, growth or size distribution. Thomas is not stocked, therefore all walleye in the lake result from natural reproduction.Catches of northern pike (5.00 fish/gillnet and 14.70 lbs/gillnet) also were within the normal ranges, increasing since 1948 when both numbers and sizes were below the first quartile. Mean weight of northern pike sampled was 2.94 lbs. Growth rates are variable, but on the average, growth is good with northern pike attaining 19.61 inches at age 4. The present PSD (40) and RSD-P (20) indicate a stable size structure, however, the sample size is small.Pumpkinseed, bluegill, largemouth bass and black crappie catch rates were within the normal ranges for lakes of this class, except for pumpkinseed lbs/set which was slightly above the third quartile. Largemouth bass abundance was below the first quartile in 1948 and even though it it now within the normal range, the increase was not large (up 0.31 fish/trapnet and 0.03 lbs/trapnet). Black crappie and bluegill densities were also below the first quartile in 1948. Black crappie exhibit good growth rates (7.8 inches at age 4), but the size distribution is poor. The PSD of 40 is indicative of a population dominated by small fish with none reaching preferred length. Bluegill size structure is similar to black crappie (PSD=33, RSD-P=1), however, growth is slow. Both bluegill and pumpkinseed exhibit slow growth their first 4 years, averaging 4.44 inches and 3.88 inches respectively at age 4. Pumpkinseed size structure (PSD=65) is better than bluegill, however, no pumpkinseed reach preferred lengths. Unlike black crappie and bluegill, pumpkinseed density has decreased since 1948 when it was above the third quartile. Yellow perch catch rates were below the first quartile in 1991 (0.50 fish/gillnet and 0.05 lbs/gillnet), decreasing in both numbers and size since 1948.Catches of white sucker were above the third quartile, yellow bullhead below the first quartile and rock bass within the normal range for lakes of this classification. Densities of all three species were below the first quartile during the initial survey in 1948.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Rock Bass, Black Crappie, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass in Loon. 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 Loon. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Loon has a maximum depth of 50 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Loon is from 2013. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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