Battle

Battle Lake is a 199 acre lake located east of Effie, MN in the Bigfork River watershed. The lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet and is part of a navigable chain of lakes including Pickerel and Deer Lakes. The lake has limited development, and the primary access is through a shallow channel from Pickerel Lake. All three lakes in the chain have a conservation regulation (10 fish daily bag limit) for sunfish and a slot length limit (17-26 inch protected) for Walleye. The lake management plan (LMP) was last revised in 2014. Bluegill and Black Crappie were considered primary management species because they are well suited for the lake. Northern Pike and Walleye were considered secondary management species. A standard survey was conducted in 2018 to assess the status of the fish community. The Bluegill trap net catch rate in 2018 was above the management plan goal, but within the typical range when compared to similar lakes. Bluegill numbers may be increasing in Battle Lake. A trend of increased Bluegill abundance has been noted in many area lakes in recent years and is consistent with statewide trends. The three highest catch rates for Battle Lake Bluegill have occurred in the most recent surveys. Average size in Battle Lake has generally declined over the same period. Sampled Bluegill in 2010 ranged from 3.2 to 9.2 inches, with an average length of 6.0 inches. This compares to average lengths of 6.8 inches in 2004 and 8.4 inches in 1998. Size structure in the most recent survey was influenced by a strong 2015 year class. Ages 2 through 10 were represented, but age 3 fish made up 42% of the sample. Despite the decline in average size, overall size quality remains favorable, as 27% of the sampled Bluegill exceed 8 inches. Good angling opportunities appear to exist for Bluegills given the abundance and size quality. Battle Lake typically produces a modest crappie population. The 2018 catch was typical of Battle Lake and similar to lakes with comparable habitats. The catch rate was below the LMP goal and had declined from the previous two surveys. Crappie populations in northern Minnesota are often cyclical, and the Battle Lake fishery likely varies based on inconsistent year class production. At the time of this survey, the population appeared to be comprised of mostly younger fish. Crappie from gill nets ranged from 4.2 to 11.6 inches, with an average length of 8.0 inches. Ages 1 and 3 made up 62% of the sample, with average growth of 9.2 inches at age 5. Battle Lake has a history of moderate to high pike numbers with poor size quality. The 2018 gill net catch for Northern Pike was higher than the LMP goal, but less than the catch from the previous survey. Reduced pike numbers are often desirable, as high numbers of small pike result in poor growth and small average size. Size quality remained relatively poor in 2018. Sampled pike ranged from 17.4 to 26.3 inches with an average length of 21 inches. Poor size quality may limit the popularity of the pike fishery. The north central pike zone regulation implemented in 2018 requires anglers to release pike from 22-26 inches, while allowing for more harvest of small pike. It is hoped that this regulation will improve size quality on Battle Lake. Battle Lake typically produces a modest number of Walleye. The walleye gill net catch remained below the expected range for similar lakes, and was similar to previous surveys. Net catches for Walleye have only exceeded the management plan goal of 2.0/net in two of the ten surveys since 1960. Sampled Walleye were generally large, as lengths ranged from 18.9 to 27.2 inches, with an average length of 21.6 inches. Low numbers likely limit the popularity of the Walleye fishery. The gill net catch for Yellow Perch was below the typical range for similar lakes. Like many Minnesota lakes, perch numbers have declined over time. Although catches in past surveys have been as high as 51.3/net, historical catch rates have generally been less than 10.0/net. Size structure of Yellow Perch is too poor to interest most anglers. Low perch numbers likely limit Walleye production. Unfortunately, bass are difficult to evaluate with test nets and boat electrofishing was not attempted due to the limited access and remote nature of Battle Lake. Test netting suggests that Largemouth Bass are relatively abundant, as the trap net catch rate was higher than expected compared to similar lakes. Bass ranged from 4.6 to 17.2 inches. Other species sampled in test nets included Brown Bullhead, White Sucker, Pumpkinseed Sunfish and Hybrid Sunfish.

Battle Lake is in ecological lake class 39 and is located 14 miles east of Effie, MN, in the Bigfork Watershed. The lake is 199 acres and has a maximum depth of 15 feet. A survey targeting nearshore fish species was conducted by Area staff on 5 July, 2018. Ten sampling sites (100 feet long) were evenly spaced around the lake shore, sampling a variety of habitat types. Each site is sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-ft or 15-ft 1/8th inch mesh seine, depending on habitat condition. Shoreline seining was conducted at nine sites; four using a 50-ft seine and five using a 15-ft seine. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 10 sites. Nearshore sampling captured a total of 13 different species; nine species by seining and 10 species by backpack electrofishing. The species can be found in the gear-specific catch tables in this report. Nearshore catches will be used with the gill net and trap net data from the standard survey conducted on 16 July, 2018, to calculate a fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) score which is indicative of lake health. The surveys will assist the watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

Battle Lake is a 199-acre lake located east of Effie, MN in the Bigfork River watershed. The lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet and is part of a navigable chain of lakes including Pickerel and Deer Lakes. In 2005, a 17 to 26 inch protected slot limit regulation for Walleye (with one fish over 26 inches in possession) was implemented for the chain of lakes. All three lakes were included in the regulation because it is possible to navigate a boat from lake to lake. Access to Battle Lake is obtained through a shallow channel from Pickerel Lake. The specific goals of the regulation related to Walleye catch rate and size structure were focused primarily on Deer Lake. General goals of the regulation were to provide a more stable walleye population and increase the contribution of natural reproduction throughout the chain. The 2013 special gill-net assessment was conducted to sample Walleye to monitor the effects of the special regulation on Battle Lake. The 2013 Walleye gill-net catch was 1.7/net, compared to a catch of 1.3/net in 2010. This is within the lake class expected range and similar to the long-term average for Battle Lake. As in most previous assessments, sample size was too small to calculate meaningful stock density indices. Walleye sampled in 2013 ranged from 15.0 to 25.6 inches with a mean length of 18.7 inches. Mean length of Walleye in the two most recent assessments was slightly higher than in pre-regulation surveys. The number of fish over 20 inches increased slightly as well. Growth was similar to the statewide average with Walleye exceeding 15 inches at age 4. Seven year classes were represented with three of the ten fish corresponding to years of fry stocking. Fry stocking in Battle Lake proper was discontinued in 2011 because it did not appreciably increase the Walleye population beyond what would be expected from natural reproduction and migration among the lakes. Currently, the fry allocated to Battle Lake have been stocked in Deer Lake. The results of this assessment indicate the special regulation has had limited effect on the Walleye population. Battle Lake has never had an abundant Walleye population, but will likely continue to provide a low density bonus fishery. Northern Pike were sampled at 3.2/gill net. This catch rate is below the lake class expected range and is considerably lower than other recent assessments. Historical catch rates have varied from 2.5 to 12.3/net. Sampled Northern Pike ranged from 16.6 to 26.8 inches with a mean length of 21.5 inches. This was the first survey not to sample Northern Pike over 28 inches. Age and growth data for Pike were not collected in this assessment. The gill-net catch for Yellow Perch was 1.0/net. This is well below the lake class expected range and the lowest catch rate recorded for Battle Lake. Sampled Yellow Perch ranged from 5.8 to 6.8 inches. The Black Crappie gill-net catch rate was within the expected range at 3.5/net. Size structure was good; sampled Black Crappie ranged from 6.9 to 12.0 inches with a mean length of 11.0 inches. Gill-net PSD was 95 and RSD-P was 90. Age and growth information was not collected in this assessment. Other species sampled in this assessment included Largemouth Bass, White Sucker and Yellow Bullhead.

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

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

Battle has a maximum depth of 15 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Battle is from 2018. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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