Buck

Buck Lake is a shallow, productive lake located north of Nashwauk, MN in the Mississippi River watershed. The lake is highly developed and has a small public access on the southwest side of the lake. Buck Lake supports a variety of species of aquatic vegetation with good habitat for panfish and Largemouth Bass. The 2014 lake management plan (LMP) listed Black Crappie and Largemouth Bass as a primary management species, with Walleye as a secondary management species. The goals were to maintain a catch of 2.0 Black Crappie/net, a Largemouth Bass electrofishing catch of 50/h, and provide a bonus Walleye fishery. A standard survey using 9 gill nets and 9 trap nets was conducted in August 2023 to assess the fishery. Black Crappie catches have fluctuated substantially from a low of 0.3 in 1991 to a high of 25.6/net in 1976. The 2023 catch of 7.8/net was the second highest on record and exceeded the LMP goal. The sampled crappie ranged from 4.9 to 12.2 inches and averaged 8.4 inches. Multiple good year-classes were observed with fish ranging from age 1 to 11. Growth was generally slow compared to other lakes with similar habitat. Fish averaged 9.3 inches after five years of growth. Black Crappie likely provide good fishing when strong year-classes reach a size anglers desire. Largemouth Bass are most effectively sampled with spring, night electrofishing but due to the late spring and staff shortages, it was not conducted in 2023. The gill-net catches have generally ranged from 1.1 to 2.4/net since 1976. The 2023 catch was 2.6/gill net. The sampled fish ranged from 5.8 to 18.3 inches and averaged 11.3 inches. Six year-classes from age 1 to age 6 were identified from the fish less than 15.0 inches. Growth was somewhat slow compared to the statewide average. Walleye habitat in Buck Lake is limited so the management goal is to provide a bonus fishery. Various management strategies have been attempted to create a fishery. The 2023 survey evaluated a period of stocking 1 lb of Walleye fingerlings/littoral acre every third year, beginning in 2015. The nine surveys conducted since 1951 found Walleye catches ranging from 0 to 3.4/gill-net. The 2023 catch of 3.1/net was the second highest for the lake. The sampled fish ranged from 10.8 to 24.3 inches and averaged 18.9 inches. Four ages were estimated with fish from age 2 to 22 represented. The three stockings since 2015 resulted in all but one of the 28 fish sampled. Growth rates were good compared to the statewide average. Fish averaged 17.7 inches after four years of growth. The Walleye population likely provides a modest fishery. Yellow Perch catches have been lower than most lakes with similar habitat since 1981. In 2023, no perch were sampled in the gill nets or trap nets but they were observed in nearshore sampling. The lack of perch is noted because they are often an important component of Walleye diets. The perch population does not provide any angling opportunities. Northern Pike catches have been average to high compared to other lakes with similar habitat. Pike were sampled at a rate of 8.2/gill net in 2023. Few fish over 28 inches have ever been sampled; including only one over 34 inches. The 2023 sample included fish from 15.6 to 30.0 inches and the average length was 20.2 inches. Buck Lake is known for having higher numbers of smaller pike and these population attributes are not desirable because they result in slow growth. Anglers and spearers are encouraged to not harvest fish over 26 inches to improve size structure. The Bluegill population can be characterized as having moderate numbers and sized fish. Trap-net catch rates declined from 25.3/net in 2013 to 8.4/net in 2023; the second lowest on record. Size structure from the trap nets has generally been poor. In 2023, nearly 7% of the Bluegill exceeded 8 inches. Sampled fish ranged from 3.1 to 8.9 inches and averaged 4.6 inches. Mid-summer trap netting generally does not represent Bluegill numbers or size very well. Larger fish were sampled in the gill nets with 14% exceeding 8 inches. Ageing structures were not collected in 2023 but based on the size distributions it appears recruitment is fairly consistent. Buck Lake can provide decent Bluegill fishing opportunities at times. Other species sampled in test nets included Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rock Bass, White Sucker and Yellow Bullhead. Boaters can help slow the spread of invasive species by removing all vegetation from their boat and trailer before moving from one waterbody to another.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Buck Lake was conducted on July 19-20, 2023, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites 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 ten sampling stations, but one was done from the boat due to soft substrate and depth. A 50-foot seine was used to sample eight stations, a 15-foot seine was used at one station. Nearshore sampling captured eighteen species of fish including seven species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Mimic Shiner, Mottled Sculpin, Pugnose Shiner, and Rock Bass) and none that are tolerant of disturbance. The nearshore data were combined with an August 2023 gill net and July 2023 trap net data to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead and Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Results from this survey indicate that the fish community in Buck Lake is healthy as indicated by an exceptionally high FIBI score, well above the impairment threshold determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to previous survey findings, which indicated that Buck Lake fully supported aquatic life use based on the FIBI. These results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Mississippi River- Grand Rapids Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Buck Lake was conducted beginning on July 10th, 2023, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites 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 ten sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample seven stations and a 15-foot seine was used at three stations. Nearshore sampling captured seventeen species of fish including four species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass) and zero that are tolerant of disturbance. A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by IBI Program staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured nine species of fish, including one that is intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Rock Bass). Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Northern Pike and Brown Bullhead comprised a majority by biomass. The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from an August 2023 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead and Common Carp). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Buck Lake is Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score that exceeds the general use threshold determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to previous survey findings, which indicated that Buck Lake is fully supporting for aquatic life use. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Mississippi River - Grand Rapids Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

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

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

Buck has a maximum depth of 31 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Buck is from 2023.

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